The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, 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, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23, NKJV.
Merciful Father, Please come close to us, and lead us into the green pastures of Your Word. For Christ’s sake. Amen.
Today is the third day in our series of hymns that were written, based on a text from the Bible. I was not sure if the hymn that was selected was based on the Twenty-Third Psalm. I could not find any conclusive evidence of this fact; but it is one of my favorite hymns, and it does call to my mind, the dearly loved psalm. So I have decided to share some thoughts on this psalm, and then share the words of the hymn: “Savior, Like a Shepherd.”
There are some very valuable lessons that we can learn about Shepherds and their flocks. One of these lessons is that it is of utmost importance for the sheep to be acquainted with the voice of the shepherd! This calls for great intimacy between the Shepherd and His sheep! The sheep knows the voice of its shepherd; this facilitates leading the sheep. It not only facilitates leading them, but it could also be a matter of life and death, if the sheep follows the wrong person. Listen to what Jesus had to say about this: “All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them… The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10: 8, 10).
Another lesson of great value, is that the sheep learn, early on, to faithfully, obey the Shepherd. If a sheep is consistentlly disobedient, with much pain in His heart, the Shepherd, at times, must break the legs of the sheep! During the time that it takes for the sheep’s legs to heal, the shepherd carries the sheep on his back. By the time his or her legs are healed; the sheep has learned to follow the sherpherd like his shadow! Have you reached the conclusion yet, that some of your greatest, and most valuable lessons, have been learned in moments of brokenness, caused by your own disobedience? I have! But during the healing process I have also been blessed by the grace, and love of my Shepherd (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10).
A third lesson is that the path in which the Lord has chosen to lead us, is, “for His name’s sake.” Therefore, it may not always be the path you would choose for yourself; but rest assured, that it is the path that leads to the house of the Lord, where you will dwell forever. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6: 19, 20). “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10: 31).
Savior, Like A Shepherd
Savior, like a Shepherd lead us, Much we need Thy tenderest care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, For our use Thy folds prepare. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are; Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us Thine we are.
We are Thine; do Thou befriend us, be the Guardian of our way; keep Thy flock from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us, when we pray! Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us, when we pray!
Thou hast promised to receive us, Poor and sinful though we be; Thou hast mercy to relieve us, Grace to cleanse, and power to free. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, we will early turn to Thee; blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, we will early turn to Thee.” Anonymous.