Jehovah-raah – The Lord my Shepherd

It doesn’t matter what I am. It only matters who He is because He is all I need…The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.
When He is our Shepherd, we are His sheep. Did you know that sheep are the dumbest of all animals, helpless, timid, require constant attention and meticulous care? At first I thought “I am NOT” I then resigned to “well sometimes” before admitting “OK that description does apply to me”. Even though we do dumb things, are not perfect, stumble in many ways we CAN succeed WHEN the Lord is our Shepherd…

1. The Shepherd knows the sheep and calls their name (Jn. 10: 4). Jesus is the good shepherd (Jn. 10:11) and brings His fold together (Jn. 10:16)
2. As His sheep, we know His voice and follow Him (Jn. 10: 3, 27)
3. We must be on watch for thieves who are after us [the sheep] (Jn. 10:1) for the purpose of killing, stealing and destruction (Jn. 10:10) 

Many have the 23rd Psalm read at the end of their loved one’s lives, after studying it I think it is a great Psalm to live by with encouragement of how we can persevere and succeed regardless of our circumstances because of our Shepherd.

• The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures – the word “makes does not mean he forces me” instead because I am free from hunger, fear, friction and pests I can lie down. If a sheep was hungry he would eat not lie down in the green pastures; I can be free from hunger will I am filled with the Word of God. If a sheep was afraid he would not lie down; I can be free from fear by trusting in God, His love and the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me.
• He leads be beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. – Linda showed us the pictures of the Jordan River where the parasites are found at the bottom of the river when it is still and only then is it safe for the sheep to drink.
• Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies – we are able to walk and sit before our enemies when we are free from friction; in order to experience this we must experience forgiveness (both give it and accept it) and have a humble spirit.
• You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. – without ointment placed on the nose by the shepherd, sheep are attacked by worms that work their way up their head into the brain; they are so irritating that sheep will bash their heads until they die. In the same way our thoughts torment us…thoughts of fear, rejections, bitterness, hatred, failure, incompetency, sensuality and greed. 

 This is the 23rd Psalm song by Kathy Troccoli: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVYh63ZF_Vo  

Remember you have a Shepherd who loves you and would do anything for you including give His life and go into the wilderness to bring you back to Him.

Blessings,

Ellen