Psalm 23:1-6; John 10:11-16
Psalm 23 is used as a metaphor where God uses this allegory comparing Himself to that of a shepherd displaying His love, care and divine protection to all humanity. Metaphors are commonly used throughout Old Testament writing to paint a clear picture when making a heavenly point. Sometimes parables are used to express similar meanings.
To further expound on the metaphoric symbol of the 23rd Psalm we see humanity, especially believers as God’s sheep and the whole world is His pasture and God Himself is the shepherd providing for all humanity—saved and un-saved alike. Believers are truly counted as God’s sheep and when one goes astray, He will search for that lost soul through the Holy Spirit as it is God’s desire for all to be saved—in the fold. Believers are the affections of God’s love as depicted through His Son Jesus Christ who willingly gave His life for the sins of the world. What a God!
Throughout Psalm 23, we see the Lord’s intentions for all those who follow Him while displaying His providential care for all humanity’s needs. Let’s look at the phrase “I shall not want”, it gives God’s guarantee that what ever our needs are He will supply. If we analyze the phrase it gives two insights: one, believers will lack for nothing as this is the Will of God. Two, believers can be content in God, the Good Shepherd’s provisional care, because during our worst of times, He is there beside us, and for this believers can trust God to keep His promise--never to leave us alone. Just look at God, the Good Shepherd!
More importantly, the entire Psalm talks about the benefits and blessings from being the Lord’s sheep. When the troubles our souls becomes troubled to the point there appear to be no way out, God through His Spirit gently leads us to peace, calmness and contentment. Also, God gently re-energizes our souls through His power and grace. Another blessing from being God’s sheep is, God through His Spirit gently walk beside us protecting us from both seen and unseen dangers so much so that we can conduct our daily lives with confident that God has dispatched His goodness and mercy angles to serve as our protective shields daily and forever more. One final note on the Good Shepherd is that despite Satan’s evil tactics, God continues caring for both our spiritual and physical needs in a sin society corroded so much so that all believers can eat from the master’s table in faith, thanksgiving, hope and fully be at peace because we are protected by the shed blood of Jesus Christ as we are continuously being protected by the Holy Spirit.
In closing this dialogue, God is our Good Shepherd, but we must trust, obey, and commit to His ways all in faith.
Author’s contact:
wwhite@goodshepherdwritingandpubishing.com
white3285@sbcglobal.net
www.goodshepherdwritingandpublishing.com
http://willie-writing.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment