THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Proclamation:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me besides quiet waters, and He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake. ... Goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-3 and 6

Explanation:

This Psalm is a prayer of King David, a man after God’s own heart.  It reveals the intimate and personal relationship that David has with God.  He is confident of God’s care.  He states that God will supply all of his needs and he will not go lacking.  God will provide his food and shelter and will direct his path.  God’s love will take care of him all of his life and he expects to be with God for all of eternity.

Application:

Sheep would be lost without a shepherd.  The shepherd provides for their total care.  He leads them to peaceful places to sleep, to eat, and to drink.  Not only do sheep need to be lead to places to eat, they need to be moved from time to time so they do not destroy their feeding grounds.  Sheep will not drink from running water, they will only drink from a still pool.  Sheep need to be protected, they cannot protect themselves and are easily slaughtered. (Isaiah 53:7)  Like sheep we are just dumb animals who cannot protect ourselves from the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)  Like dumb animals all of us follow someone.   The question is, who are you following and where are you being led to?  Jesus said that His sheep know His voice and will not follow anyone else. (John 10:27)  If you are not following Jesus then who are you following and where are you going?  The love of God, His goodness and mercy will protect those who follow Him all of the days in this life and in the eternity to come.