Christian

A Shepherd’s Perspective on Psalm 23

Cindy Dawson

“I have concluded based on my years of experience that sheep are stupid. Not just stupid but mind-numbingly stupid— sometimes I wonder how they manage to breath and eat.” Glenn Brunkow, Rancher¹

Somehow that quote from Brunkow gives me comfort. God wants to lead us, feed us, and guide us. Our responsibility is to just obey.

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I’m re-reading a fascinating book by Phillip Keller called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.² Keller was a shepherd for years and explains many things about sheep that most people don’t know.

The book is eye-opening and provides a deeper understanding of our relationship with the Lord, the Great Shepherd. It’s no accident he calls us His sheep!

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23 KJV

The shepherd watches over his sheep day and night. They cannot take care of themselves, and they get into all kinds of trouble. They will drink polluted water, wander off and be attacked by a wild animals, get stuck in the same fence repeatedly, etc.

“He who watches over you will not slumber;” Psalm 121:3

Sheep are fearful, timid, and skittish. A rabbit hopping by suddenly can send them into a panic. But they calm down when the shepherd walks into view and they are comforted. So many times in my life, when I was in a panic, the Lord has comforted me and calmed my fears. That’s when I wonder how people who don’t know Him get through tough times.

We do “not want” because Jesus is always with us, in good times and in bad.  Our joy and peace comes from His presence in our life, not in what we have or the way life goes. We are content to be led by Him, doing His will.

One thing I found interesting is the fact that like humans, some sheep refuse to follow the shepherd and instead do their own thing. (Ouch!)

This can result in lots of serious problems for the sheep, problems they would have never experienced – if only they had followed the shepherd. (I think this parallel is pretty obvious!)

Keller tells how he would lead his sheep to a clean, clear stream and a stubborn ewe would go off and drink from a polluted, parasite-infested puddle instead. Isn’t that what some people do? We choose the unclean ways of the world instead of the ways of God.

“Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.  By this he meant the Spirit,” John 7:37-38 NIV

A good shepherd provides good forage for the sheep, lush green vegetation, so that the sheep can have plenty to eat, grow, and thrive. However, some sheep will wander off and eat from barren, dry brush instead. Many times, we prefer to feed on the barren ground of the world around us instead of the peace and comfort that comes from dwelling in His Word and His presence.

The final parallel I want to share is the most extraordinary. Sheep must have plenty of pure clean water. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to lead them to a lush green field heavy with morning dew.

The sheep can keep fit and hydrated for months just by grazing right before dawn when the field is heavy with dew. The sheep feed heavily and are most content at this time of day. A good shepherd will make sure his sheep have this opportunity to drink in the “still waters” of dew.

“In the Christian life it is of more than passing significance to observe that those who are often the most serene, most confident and able to cope with life’s complexities are those who rise early each day to feed on God’s Word.” (Keller)

These are just a few of the many insights from A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller.

I don’t know about you, but it gives me great comfort to know that I don’t have to be smart to thrive. I need only to follow Jesus, the Great Shepherd.

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 NIV

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV

“If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:12-14 NIV

With Love, 

Cindy

This is My Journey Unscripted.

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

realchristianwomen.blog 

¹https://www.agupdate.com/midwestmessenger/opinion/columnists/glenn_brunkow/the-questionable-intelligence-of-sheep/article_69540f07-7577-5559-bfde-a31ea95acc0c.html

²ISBN 0-310-26790-0 available on Amazon

Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash

17 thoughts on “A Shepherd’s Perspective on Psalm 23”

      1. I know people who are offended because the Bible says we were made from dirt. It hurts man’s pride to know just how much we are nothing. But makes us see just how much we need a Savior!

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  4. God Bless you Cindy!! May we continue praying ye for One Another. Thank you for sharing!! 🙂 Our God Is Able!! He Has Overcome…These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 \0/\0/ ((Hugs)) Agape!! Shalom!! 🙂

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  8. Hi,

    (Psalm 23:1 ) states :“The
    Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

    The verse is propounded
    nicely in this article.

    This is one way of explanation about how can we get all things from God _:

    These are consistent
    verses about getting all
    things from God _:

    1) (1 Timothy 6:17 ):’God
    richly provides us with
    everything to enjoy.’

    2) ( Romans 8:32) :“He who
    did not spare his own Son,
    but gave him up for us all-
    how will he not also, along
    with him, graciously give us
    all things?”

    3) (Psalm 37:25 ) :“I was
    young & now I am old, yet
    I have never seen the
    righteous forsaken or their children  begging bread.”

    4) ( 2 Corinth.9: 8) :“ God is
    able to bless you abundantly,
    so that in all things at all
    times, having all that you
    need, you will abound in
    every good work.”

    5) ( Philippians 4:19 ) :“My
    God will meet all your needs according to the riches of
    his glory in Christ Jesus.”

    How  can we get all things ?
    #############

    A)  By seeking God .

    These are 3 verses _:

    ! ) (Matthew 6 : 33 ) says:’
    ‘ Seek first the kingdom of
    God & his righteousness &
    all these things will be
    added to you.’

    !! ) (Psalm 34:10) says:“The
    lions may grow weak &
    hungry, but those who
    seek the Lord lack no
    good thing.”

    !!! )(1 Chronicles 16:11 )
    says: ‘Seek The Lord &His
    strength; seek His presence continually!’

    We have to seek The LORD
    with  all our heart. _:

    (Jeremiah 29:13) : states:
    ‘Lord said, “Ye shall seek me
    & find [me], when ye shall
    search for me with all your
    heart.’

    B)  By asking Him.

    These are 10 consistent
    verses _:

    1)(Matthew 7:11 ) states –
    “If you, then, though you
    are evil, know how to give
    good gifts to your children,
    how much more will your
    Father in heaven give good
    gifts to those who ask him!”

    2)(James 4: 2 ) says :’ You
    do not have, because you
    do not ask.’

    3) (1 John 3:21-22) states :
    ‘Dear friends, if our hearts
    do not condemn us, we have confidence before God &
    receive from him anything
    we ask.’

    4) (Mark 11:24) states :’ l
    tell you, whatever you ask
    for in prayer, believe that
    you have received it, & it
    will be yours.’

    5) ( John 16 : 24) states :
    ‘ Until now you have not
    asked for anything in my
    name. Ask and you will
    receive, and your joy will be complete.’

    6) (John 15:7,16) states :’ If
    you remain in me & my words remain in you, ask whatever
    you wish, & it will be done
    for you.You did not choose
    me, but I chose you &
    appointed you so that you
    might go and bear fruit—
    fruit that will last & so that
    whatever you ask in my
    name the Father will give you.’

    7) ( Matthew 7:7) states  :
    ‘ Ask and it will be given to
    you; seek and you will find;
    knock and the door will be opened to you.’

    8) (1 John 5:14,15) states :
    “This is the confidence we
    have in approaching God:
    that if we ask anything
    according to his will, he
    hears us.’

    9) (John 14:13) states :’I
    will do whatever you ask in
    my name, so that the Father
    may be glorified in the Son.’

    10) (Matthew 21:22) states :‘,If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’

    With all things we can get the
    power of The Spirit. & wisdom
    too. These are 3 verses_:
    ############

    1)(Ephesians 3:16 ) states  :‘ That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being. ‘

    2) (2 Peter 1:3 ) states :“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge  of him who called us by his own glory
    & goodness.”

    3)  (James 1:5,6) :’ If any of you lacks wisdom ,you should ask God, whogives generously to all without finding fault,& it will be given to you.But when you ask, you must believe & not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown & tossed by the wind.’

                <><><><><><><><>

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