I tend to be a little repetitive sometimes when it comes to Scripture. I get stuck on a certain book or passage, and read and re-read this particular section for days or weeks at a time. What is so interesting is that the more I read something, the more I see and understand…the more it comes alive.
I’ve been stuck in Psalms for the past while. I know probably a lot of you have handy-dandy reading plans for Bible reading and read a Psalm a day or something like. I find it a little hilarious that I am a huge planner in every other area of life, but in Bible reading it doesn’t work for me. I make grand plans or print out a schedule, but inevitably I will revert to just picking something at random and going with it.
I think the important thing here is to do it, plan or no plan.
Psalm twenty-three is a familiar one. We’ve read it and memorized it. We’ve let it comfort us in times of darkness and trouble. I think it used to be too familiar for me to fully appreciate. It used to be one of those chapters I just read without realizing what I’m reading…but the past few weeks, it’s become something that has taken on a whole new life.
What I’ve come to know and love these past few weeks in being stuck on this chapter is this: Jesus is the gentle Shepherd. So I’ve thought a lot about shepherds, and what they do, and what they are for, and what makes a good one. And I’ve come to see that having a shepherd for my life is a good thing, a truly good thing.
Because of this Shepherd, these are true of my life:
– I have what I need (not always what i want).
– I have a good leader (that’s what a shepherd is).
– I have a shepherd that leads me to good things (green pastures and still waters are good things).
– I can be in the middle of really hard things, but without fear.
– I have Someone with me, always, all the time.
– I have Someone with me all the time Who has authority and strength to help me find victory over my enemies (a rod and a staff are meant to fight off enemies).
– I have Someone Who gives me good things, even in the midst of my enemies.
– I am pursued by good things (it follows me…i can’t get away from it).
– I have a beautiful promise of a glorious future.
Goodness. This is the theme. This is the core nature of this gentle Shepherd. I don’t know about you, but this overwhelms my soul. It gives the greatest feeling of peace. It gives the greatest feeling of freedom! We have this Shepherd Who is good and kind and gentle and strong and fierce, Who is with us always, Who leads us, guides, gives us direction. He is there to lead us to where we need to go. He is there to lead us to life.
He leads us, and then He follows us with goodness and mercy. What a perfect picture of safety…what a perfect place of comfort.
This doesn’t mean we won’t experience the valley of the shadow of death…the Psalms doesn’t say anything about not going through hard things. But it does say that when we do, when we’re in the valley or surrounded by enemies, we have a Shepherd there with us to lead us to the meadows and rivers. Maybe we won’t arrive to that place quickly…maybe it’s a journey of many weeks, months, or years. But the promise is this: He will lead us, because He is good.
What about you: what are your thoughts on Jesus being the Good Shepherd?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
