The Lord is MY shepherd…
For us to say that the Lord is our shepherd, means that we must make a really important admission. If He is our shepherd, that must mean that we are His sheep.
If you think about it for a second, that really isn’t a compliment for us.
We aren’t lions.
We aren’t bears.
We don’t even get to be tigers.
We are sheep.
Sheep get a bad rap. They are often thought of as dumb animals. While that is somewhat true, I don’t think that is the primary point David or other scriptures are trying to point out. It wasn’t their ignorance that marked them, it was their dependence. Sheep are totally dependent on the care of the shepherd. If they want to survive, they need the help of a loving shepherd.
When attacked, sheep don’t put up much of a fight. They are easy prey for predators, both thieves and wolves. They have no natural defense mechanisms, no razor sharp teeth, no terrifying claws, no high speed maneuverability. They don’t even have a menacing voice.
No growl or howl. Just baaaa.
Without a shepherd to fend off the enemy, the sheep is going to be somebody’s quick service meal.
While threats from outside are a constant danger for the sheep, it is equally true that sheep are a danger to themselves. Sheep have a bad habit of wandering off and have no real sense of direction. They may be in a nice green pasture, but if left unattended, they will wander off and starve. They get caught in thickets, stuck and unable to get out. I’ve even heard it said that sheep can fall in such a way, on their backs with their legs in the air, and without a shepherd to right them, will be unable to get back up. The flock will move on and the sheep will just lay there and ultimately die.
We could go on, but I think you get the picture. The health and well being of a sheep is directly connected to the care provided by the shepherd.
You and I are those sheep. Psalm 100:3 says “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Throughout scripture, God’s people are called His sheep. Isaiah 53:6 reminds us that being a sheep means we too tend to go astray. “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” We wander off. We find ourselves in places we never intended to be. Caught up in the briars of our own poor choices. We aren’t entirely sure how we got there, but nevertheless, there we are and we have no idea how we’re going to get out. The enemy attacks us, seeking to rob us of our joy and peace, seeking to devour us. We want to put up a fight, but the reality is, we feel powerless against the assault. We leave the green pastures and can’t figure out why we are spiritually starving.
We may be sheep but thank goodness we have a Good Shepherd! You may find yourself in a bad place, but the Shepherd isn’t going to leave you there. Look up and see Him. The enemy may be coming at you hard. The Shepherd is there to protect you. Trust the Shepherd. Whether you’re caught in the thicket, wandered off to a dry pasture, or are being assailed by some wolf, let the Shepherd rescue you. Our problem is, we think we can get out of it ourselves. If we just try harder, do better, pray more, then we can get ourselves out of the mess we find ourselves in. We resist submitting to the shepherd and just keep kicking in a futile effort to rescue ourselves. But it never works. Sheep need a shepherd’s care. Wherever you find yourself, stop kicking against Him and let Him carry you to where you need to be. Let Him place you back in that green pasture. He is the Good Shepherd. YOU are just a sheep.
Questions for Today:
- What are some ways that you find yourself being like a sheep? What thickets have you found yourself in?
- How have you seen God act as a shepherd in your life?
- Is there a direction that you have wandered that has taken you from green pastures to a parched soul?
- In what ways do you need to submit to the shepherd’s care?
Prayer for Today:
Thank you, Lord for Your care over my life. I haven’t always gone the ways I should, I have tended to wander. I have on my own choosing, wandered to places I should have never gone. But you never have given up on me. You continue to pursue me and rescue me from both outside attacks and from my own destructive tendencies. Thank you for your love and care for me, your sheep. Help me listen and follow my Shepherd more each day.
Amen.
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