The Lord is my Shepherd

This morning, at Hope’s View, I walked in early hours towards the dam at the bottom of the property. The water was still, the grass wet with dew. As I gazed around at the green pasture, I was thankful for the peace, grateful for this place of safety and beauty.

The beautiful words of Psalm 23 came to mind.

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He refreshes my soul

He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Such beautiful words by the psalmist David, who clearly knew and loved God deeply. He had been a shepherd himself, so he knew how crucially important the role of shepherd was for the survival and wellbeing of the sheep. He had risked his life for the sheep in his care more than once. To name God as his Shepherd was immensely meaningful for David.

I was then reminded of the passage in the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, where Jesus also paints a beautiful picture of the ways that a shepherd cares for his sheep, of the one who keeps watch at night while the sheep rest in their pen so no wolf or thief can threaten them. The shepherd opens the gate when it is safe for them to come out and calls them by name, so the sheep, who are familiar with his voice, will follow him to safe pasture and he cares for them while they eat.

Jesus then makes it plain to His listeners that He is talking about Himself. I am the Good Shepherd, He says, willing to sacrifice myself for my sheep. I will protect my sheep from those who would harm them, care for them and guide them to safe pastures and through dark valleys.

“I am the good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” V14

Both David and Jesus’s disciples were surely more familiar with sheep and shepherds than most of us are today. We may well think lambs are cute and sheep are very useful animals, but as adults in our society, to be called a sheep is quite insulting, and the idea of shepherds leading a flock of sheep from pasture to pasture (when dogs can do it so well), leading them safely up and down rocky paths to find water, or laying down at the gate of their pen at night to protect them from straying or from wolves or other predators, is probably quite foreign for us and may seem irrelevant.

However, these images hold beautiful and very important messages from Jesus about who God is and what we mean to Him. There’s an intimacy here we might not associate with sheep or shepherds, but Jesus was trying to help his listeners, and us, understand that He is the only One who is truly and faithfully there for us, the One who can be trusted, who leads us in and out of safe places, who knows His followers by name, who wants us to know His voice and to follow Him in complete trust. The word used for knowing in this passage is not just a word for remembering or head knowledge, but a deep experiential, heart knowledge.

These passages and images of Jesus, of God, our heavenly Father, can bring such comfort, assurance and blessing to us. They are worth pondering, reflecting on, taking time to fill our minds and hearts with. Life isn’t always lived in green pastures, resting by still waters, finding the sustenance we need, but without our Good Shepherd where is our hope, our comfort or our assurance of eternity?  In God alone we have a protector, provider, all we need to negotiate even the darkest times of life. Jesus laid down His life for us, wants to see us nourished, rested, safe. He wants to show us His goodness and mercy all of our lives and assure us of an eternity with Him.  And He especially wants us to know His voice, to know how precious we are to Him and to follow Him in trust, even when we can’t see what’s ahead or the path is really rocky.

I’m sure there are many, like me, who sometimes find it hard to recognise themselves in these passages. Sometimes it’s hard to experience that kind of care, provision, love, guidance, that kind of trust. Sometimes it’s hard to hear God’s voice or even feel worthy of His attention and love. For some it’s easier to be the shepherd; to care for others, to be the leader, but more difficult to be the one cared for, the one guided. It takes courage to be vulnerable and put ourselves in God’s hands, to trust Him in the dark, rocky places of our lives, to stop and listen for His voice. Perhaps it’s even scary to just be still in a green and beautiful place and rest in His love. I’m thankful for the opportunities I have to do that and pray others will give themselves the gift of time spent with the Good Shepherd in our green pastures, by still waters, or wherever you can take time to hear Him calling your name, and know how much He loves you.