Glad I am a sheep!

Orginally posted on Jan. 25, 2008

I am in a Bible Study on John. This week we studied John 10. In our homework we had to research sheep and shepherds and find out what we could about them. It directed me to Psalms 23 which is such a familiar passage but today the Lord was gracious to me and helped me see this passage in a whole new light. I think that I had read it so many times that I never stopped to think what it meant to me. Here is what I learned...


Psalm 23
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guide me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. "


Because God is my shepherd:
*I shall not want (v.1). He has already given me every spiritual blessing. I do not have to ask to receive it I just have to ask to use it! (Eph. 1:3)

*I can be content and secure. In Him I find my rest. (v.2)

*He restores my soul...reconciling me to Himself. He teaches me to be more like Him. He does this not so I can be "good" and people see that but He does if HIS NAME SAKE and HIS GLORY. (v.3)

*Even when I walk through hard times and I don't understand God's purpose or His plan, I will not be afraid because his rod and his staff comfort me. I am so thankful the Lord uses his rod to discipline me because that means he loves me (Heb. 12:6) but oh how I love His staff that comforts me. I am blown away that He is a Father that knows how to use both-that even in the midst of His discipline He give me comfort. We see a great example of this in 2 Sam. 12. God is disciplining David for his sins with Bathsheba and kills the son that was born to him and Bathsheba. However, in the process He restores David relationship with Him and gives him a new son.

*He gives me victory in the presence of my enemies (v.5)

*Goodness and love will be mine forever (v.6)

Another cool think I learned about sheep came directly out of our notes that Kay Arther gave us. She said.."Sheep have a tendency to run when they are frightened. A sudden noise, a sudden disturbance can cause them to panic, And when fear strikes, the sheep take off, running frantically in any direction, often into danger. The shepherd is the only cure for panic in the sheepfold. When the shepherd senses fear, he quietly moves among the sheep reassuring them of his presence. As soon as the sheep become aware that the shepherd is with them, the desire to run vanishes because FEAR HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH TRUST. "


My Great Shepherd had to come beside me this week and replace fear with trust in a situation that attacked my family. I am so thankful for his mercy and his provision. I will gladly be a sheep....because I know the GOOD SHEPHERD.


If you have time here are some other great scriptures that shows Christ as our shepherd.
John 10:11,14 Heb. 13:20 1 Peter 5:4 Rev. 7:17