MY GOOD SHEPHERD!

As I have finished David's 23rd Psalm, I've realized this salient poem of soul soothing has brought me much comfort! I've also seen how similar I am to to a cast sheep in this season of my life. A cast sheep has trouble getting up after falling on its backside and needs his shepherd to help him get up & on its feet again. A cast sheep must trust his shepherd. (Keller, p.54)

Thomas Constable calls the 23rd Psalm "a psalm of trust and confidence in God's goodness in the present and in the future."

Restoration is often needed in our own lives! How grateful I am to have my Good Shepherd. 

I have learned what we have in our own lives is NOT the most valuable but WHO we have in our lives is what counts!

How I love my Good Shepherd!

MY FOREVER SHEPHERD!

FOREVER!

TIMELESSNESS!

All the days of my life---now and later in heaven with Him!

That's ETERNITY!

One Word that seems to say it all while touching my heart!

MY SHEPHERD ---OFFERS A SECURE DWELLING PLACE!

"And I will dwell in the house of the Lord" (Psalm 23:6b)

That's SECURITY!

Dwelling in the house of the Lord is more than a secure place!

Abiding is the word that comes to my mind.....an all encompassing word that signifies the security that comes from dwelling with Him, my Shepherd, in a deep, ongoing relationship. That's not to diminish a physical presence at a church but to always include my/your mind and heart seeking His Presence and trusting Him in all of life! 

Result = True Security!

For me, that relationship is enhanced by starting each day (dwelling) with Him---and an open Bible on my lap with a cuppa securi-TEA alongside.

A security definition from the Psalms---

I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (Psalm 16:8)

MY SHEPHERD---A BESTOWER OF BLESSINGS!

"Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:" (Psalm 23: 6a)

That's BLESSING!

For me, blessings of goodness and mercy are unending, always available  from My Shepherd's hand! 

It all comes from Him. I've done nothing to deserve it. As Scotty Smith reminded readers in his 6/7/25 blog......

 You + nothing is the mathematics of mercy and grace. You (Jesus) lived for us and died for us, and you are now 100% of “our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.”

God, like a shepherd, leads us to beneficial actions with a mercy that encourages us to go the second mile!

A dual blessing of goodness and mercy  will last God's people all the days of their lives is the BEST BLESSING!

A SHEPHERD OF ABUNDANCE!

"My cup runneth over...."(Psalm 23:5c, KJV)

My cup over-floweth with blessings as I rest in Your love and trust in your grace. From hard times of suffering that you bring me to cause my trust in You to flourish to the other times when pain and sufferings diminish. You my Shepherd use both!

That's ABUNDANCE!

When one's own cup runneth over with blessings from his/her Shepherd, it's time to serve others! Pass it on!

Provision. Time. A relational variety.

• heart to heart talks
• listening and lingering
• lots of laughter 
• sharing secrets

Abundance at its best--decreed by the Shepherd!

MY SHEPHERD --ANNOINTER & SANCTIFER

One's shepherd whether for a sheep in the field or as God's sheep, His own people, need to be used for the purpose the Shepherd intends. Annnointing is often used. 

"Thy (the Shepherd) anointest my head with oil;"  (Psalm 23:5b, KJV)

That's CONSECRATION!

This anointing releases the aggravation, frenzy, irritability & restlessness and replaces those tendencies with quiet feeding and peaceful 

contentment. Shepherds in the field smear the oily solution.

Similar to sanctification, maybe? Living for a holy purpose allowing growth in divine grace according to God's intentions through the Holy Spirit.

Such a change allows someone in need to live in comfort. (Haddon Robinson)

MY SHEPHERD----A GOD OF HOPE,

Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies...(Psalm 23:5a) 

That's HOPE!! 

A symbol of a shepherd's abundant generosity, food each day, even in the midst of adversity. Weather and wolves come to mind but trust in the shepherd reigns regardless!

Put your hope in God! Think succinct.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. (Psalm 62:5, emphasis mine)

Lord, my Shepherd, is the God of hope!

This designation continues in the NT as an analogy for God's people who now have the Holy Spirit via the triune God. Think Father God, Son of God and Holy Spirit.

Note Scripture citation above the word HOPE...(Romans 15:13) 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 15:13 NT, the Greek word for "hope" is  ἐλπίς (elpis)

implying assurance of something in the future. The passage uses the genitive form ἐλπίδος (elpidos),referring to the "God of Hope". 

A SHEPHERD OF COMFORT!

Both the rod and staff have a place in the requisite tools of the Shepherd. 

The rod has had a training purpose to aid protection and the "staff is the symbol of care." (Laniak. p. 95)

These two wooden tools are both educational in training the sheep.

That's DISCIPLINE!

From a shepherd who comforts!

 Today's "biggie" neuro doc meeting---would appreciate the comfort of prayers 

THE LORD OUR EVER PRESENT SHEPHERD!

Our ever Present Shepherd = ALWAYS WITH!

For Thou art with me.....

That's FAITHFULNESS!

We are never alone spiritually even if we are alone physically.

Think constancy. Faithful and dependable. 

Walking by faith not sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Our Shepherd is faithful even when it hurts. During life's unstable seasons, God's faithfulness is consistent and steadfast.

An ever present One! WITH ME!

TRINITY SUNDAY!

FATHER GOD!

SON JESUS!

HOLY SPIRIT!

ENOUGH SAID!!!