"11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the
sheep."
The "He" and "me" psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd." David speaks of a personal relationship. Not
"The Lord is a shepherd"...Each of us who loves Him can say He is MY SHEPHERD. By the authority of His redemptive work,
His death and resurrection, we can trust Him and call Him our Shepherd.
"I shall not want." What do we need? I am
like a sheep! Defenceless. I need safety. Here is ASSURENCE. Our security rests in Him. Heb.6:11 "11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the
full assurance of hope unto the end:"
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." We need sufficiency and satisfaction.
If sheep are hungry they do not lie down! He is our sufficiency and satisfaction. He is the bread of life, and in Him we
will never hunger nor thirst. John 6:35 "35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me
shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
"He leads me beside the still waters." We need
soul rest. Christ gives it: "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Mt.11:28
"He restores my soul:" In Him our sins are forgiven. Death is defeated.
Hos.13:14 "14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from
death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes."
He
leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake He leads and we follow Him because we are of His fold. John 10:25-27. "25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that
I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said
unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
"And though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Here is courage and comfort . We live as humans always in the
shadow of death. As we walk down that valley we are encouraged, comforted in our sure hope. If a loved one dies in Him
we look to the regathering at His call. If we die we know it is but a restful sleep until He awakens us at the "Rapture". "Never
will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not
be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6).
" for He is with me." Our Lord and Shepherd is with us at all
times and in death as well.
"His rod and His staff they comfort me." The rod is for defense and staff for direction.
He gives us gentle reproof and severe rebuke. He has a rod for our defense, but He also has a staff for our direction.
We stray! He straightens us out. That is comforting. We all need the rod once in a while! 2Timothy 3:16 "16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
1 Corinthians 11:32 "32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should
not be condemned with the world.
"He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies: He annoints my head
with oil; my cup runs over." Our table is full of spiritual blessings. We are to partake of them and be fruitful in His
fullness of The Spirit. We seek the anointing daily. Our lives overflow with joy.
"And my God will meet all your
needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). "I am come that they (we) might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly." John 10:10 We need to be running over in joy,peace, and love!
" Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
John 14:1-3: "Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
If Jesus Christ is our Shepherd we
can claim ALL these wonderful promises. He is our Savior, Lord, Shepherd and all that we need in this life. God The Son stands
beside us, The Father surrounds us and The Holy Spirit inside us.
