The Good Shepherd

 The Good Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to his name.

PSALM 23.1-3

Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

1 PETER 2.25

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. . . . I know my own sheep, and they know me.

JOHN 10.11, 14

Shepherds — people who take care of sheep — are not usually famous. But there are a few famous shepherds — like the shepherds who saw the star when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Another famous shepherd is David, who became king of Israel.

Since David grew up as a shepherd and knew what a good shepherd does, we listen to him a little more closely when he says that the Lord is his Shepherd. David knew from experience that a sheep’s quality of life depended on how well the shepherd cared for it. Most likely he had seen neglected, suffering sheep in the care of lazy shepherds. And he had seen flocks thriving in the care of good shepherds. And because he was confident in the character, commitment, and compassion of God, he wanted to be under the care of this Good Shepherd.

But the most famous shepherd is Jesus himself. Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah this way, “He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young” (40.11). This shows us something about our Shepherd’s heart. He will take care of us and tenderly carry us through the things that threaten our security, holding us close to his heart, because we are precious to him.