Our Shepherd God

I have recently felt a drawing to study the Shepherd's heart of God.
Isn't it beautiful that the Lord has chosen to call himself our shepherd?
David had a glimpse of this. In the famous psalm, Psalm 23, David shares what he has come to know of his Shepherd.

Many years ago, I heard a preacher say that this was actually David's confession. I like that. It was David's declaration to God and the devil that he believed what His Shepherd had said to Him!

The Lord IS my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. You know, we could just stop there and we'd already be blessed! What an incredible statement. Are you in want today? Listen to the voice of the One who wants to lead you to an abundance of provision. Listen to the One who wants to restore your soul. The One who wants you to prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers! He wants to lead you to green pastures! He wants you to be at rest.

And even when you have made choices in your life that may not be the best, your Shepherd is still with you! Notice that it says 'Yea though I WALK through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil FOR YOU ARE WITH ME'. David shared that he walked into the valley. It doesn't say he was led there. God never leads us to places of spiritual death! He is neither tempted with evil nor does he tempt us with evil! In fact, Jesus taught us to pray that we be not lead into temptation, but delievered from evil! But sometimes we make decisions on our own that lead us to our valleys of spiritual death. But He is still with us! His rod and His staff comfort us! The shepherd's rod is is used both to rescue sheep and as a weapon against wolves. He will protect us and deliver us in the valley!

Are you surrounded by enemies? Is the enemy of sickness there? Or poverty and lack? Your Shepherd is still with you! Listen to His voice! Don't look at your circumstances! He prepares a table before you in the prescence of your enemies! The bread of healing is there! The table of provision is there! He anoints your head with oil! And your cup is so full it overflows!

Goodness and Mercy is a person. And He is Jesus. He will be with you all the days of your life.

Take heart and listen to your Shepherd God.

So what is Jesus' response to our confession that He is our Shepherd? Read John 10: 1 to 18. Jesus makes his own confession! He is our Good Shepherd! He knows us us all intimately, He knows us by name!

Did you notice that Jesus seems to emphasise that his sheep would know his voice. It's interesting that in this context he also talks about the 'thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy'. He was telling us to beware of whose voice we listen to.' In the context of what Jesus was talking about, it refers to spiritual input! So be careful who you listen to. Does it produce life or put you in bondage?

Then in John 10:25 to 30 Jesus says something really powerful. Our shepherd also speaks to us through miracles! He not only leads us with His voice, He impacts us with His life! Didn't he say in John 10:10 that He had come that we might have life and have it more abundantly?

We've heard many speak of our salvation as though it could be easily lost. Have you heard those voices? Well, this is what the voice of your Shepherd says.

John 10:27 to 30 (NIV)
27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
30I and the Father are one."

Well, I don't know about you, but I don't think the teaching on Eternal Security gets any clearer that that.

Thank God for our Shepherd God.