He Is My Shepherd

Scripture

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. -Psalm 23:1

This is the first verse of one of the most well-known Psalms in the Bible. As I was loving on the Father in prayer, He brought this Psalm to me. I meditated on this entire chapter, but it was the first verse that resonated with me. I felt like the Lord highlighted a truth in this scripture to bring comfort and security to an aspect of our relationship. He is my shepherd. There are many places in scripture where God is referred to as a shepherd. For example, in Psalm 28:9, David asked God to shepherd the people of Israel, and in John 10:14, Jesus referred to Himself as the good shepherd.

When I began to do research on the relationship between the shepherd and his flock, my heart was even more tender toward the Lord. In ancient societies, the shepherd's work was considered the lowest of all work. Usually designated for the youngest son, it wasn't a pleasant job. Yet, God has chosen to be our shepherd. The Lord God Almighty stoops down to take care of us. David himself, being the youngest son, was a shepherd. He used this metaphor to describe the intimacy that He and Yahweh shared in their relationship. A shepherd lives with his flock, protecting it, guiding it, and healing it when needed. Does God not do this for us? He lives in our hearts and promises to never leave or forsake us. Just as  David came to know this truth in a personal sense, God wants us to come to the same revelation. 

A sheep is an object of property, and the shepherd goes through great lengths to care for it. It is bought at a great price. Were we not bought at a great price? Christ gave His life for His sheep. We belong to the Lord, for He is a shepherd to us. He cares for us, watches over us, and preserves us. This verse expresses our complete dependency upon the Father. It's a declaration of our trust in God's provision, but it's also a decision that there is nothing more we want because God is our shepherd. He gives us all that we need. Beloved, let this verse encourage you to put your complete trust in God's provision for your life. Allow it to draw you closer to His heart so that you may worship Him in spirit and truth. 

Prayer

Father, we thank you for being our shepherd. We put our complete trust in your provision for our lives. Our faith in you is strengthened because your hand is guiding, caring, and protecting us. As your sheep, we surrender to your tender loving care. In Jesus' name. Amen