Psalms 23 – “A Psalm of David. Adonai is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of Adonai forever.”  TLV

Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday where we saw that the Shepherd provides for His flock.  Now let’s move to another consideration of the ministry of God’s True Shepherd.

• The Shepherd Protects His Flock.

In verse four we discover that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff comfort me.”  He protects against our enemies.  The shepherd in the natural protected the flock against, the wolf, bear, lion, thief, and more.  The shepherd banishes fear through His presence.  The sheep trust him completely with their lives.  Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that we are kept in Perfect Peace through Trust.

He protects the sheep with His life.  Jesus reminded his followers in Matthew 10:16 that He was sending them out as sheep in the midst of wolves.  Therefore, they needed the oversight of the Shepherd.  In Hebrews 13:5, He promised to never leave nor forsake us and in John 16:33 we are reminded that He has overcome the world!  He can be trusted.  He also protects through His Blood, and it is impossible to penetrate the Blood of Jesus from the outside.

• The Shepherd Leads His Flock.

He leads us beside the still waters.  He restores our weary souls and even our bodies. He leads in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  The waters He brings us to are not the turbulent troubled waters of life but the still quiet waters of refreshing.  Remember, He stood and declared, “If any man thirsts let Him come to Me and drink.”  He gives peace in times of trouble.  He rebukes the wind and waves of life. (Mark 4:29).

He leads us through uncharted waters with absolute peace and assurance.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He is the Door!  He leads us never drives us.  You can lead sheep, but you cannot drive them as you do cattle.

• The Shepherd Loves His Flock.

He loves them individually and loves them collectively as a flock. He makes every possible and needed preparation for their care and safety.  He does all to ensure that we are able to live for God and walk in His righteousness.  He wants us to enjoy the rich blessings and make heaven our eternal home. 

The shepherd always leads, he never just follows.  The question for each of us is, “Do we know the Shepherd?”  If not and even if we, do He wants to reveal Himself even more intimately to us.  Jesus calls – Come!  The LORD is MY Shepherd.  Insert your name in that phrase.  The LORD is Roy Beaird’s Shepherd!

Have a fantastic day as you walk with the Shepherd of God’s Flock!