The Lord Is My Shepherd

     Over twenty years ago, I did a study that has laid a good foundation for my Christian walk. It was the study of Psalm 23. I feel the need to review this passage and so I am going to take you with me! I get very frustrated when I attend funeral after funeral and hear this passage. It has become the ‘funeral passage’ because of the lack of understanding about this passage. I studied this passage from a book which I encourage you to read: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Ofter,for us to really understand something, we need to be taught by someone who has done it. Phillip Keller, author of the book, was a shepherd, so he can give us insight into the role of shepherd.
     The first words are ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’. This is stated as a proud, positive, bold statement by David. He was known as the “Shepherd King” of Israel and yet he proclaims that the “Lord (Jehovah, the Lord God of Israel) is his shepherd. Jesus confirm this when He declares that He is the Good Shepherd.
     There are two kinds of shepherds: those whose sheep struggle, starve and suffer endless hardships and those whose sheep flourish and thrive contentedly. Jesus is the good Shepherd. His sheep have the best care. We will learn that it is no accident that we are referred to as sheep. The behavior of humans and sheep are very similar. Our responses, fears, timidly, stubbornness stupidity, and perverse habits all have parallels of profound importance.
     He earned the right to be our Shepherd three times. First, He created us. Two, He died for us. Three, He is continually interceding for us, He is ever guiding us by His gracious Spirit, and He is ever working on our behalf to ensure that we will benefit from His care. For these reasons, we are obligated to recognize His ownership of us.
     Do you proudly, verbally, proclaim that Jesus Christ is your Shepherd, your owner, your manager? Do you do so by your behavior and actions?

The Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 23:1

Information taken from the book A shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller