The Good Shepherd!
- The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
- He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
- Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.Psalms 23:1-6.
The words in Psalm 23 are full of riches and glory; a mine of wealth! Jesus is revealing Himself in 7 ways here:
1. In the first verse, He reveals Himself as the Shepherd! — as one who is mindful of the needs of His sheep.
2. In the second verse, He reveals Himself as El-Shaddai or Mother-like God — a mother usually makes her children to lie down and go to sleep!!
3. In the third verse, He reveals Himself as the Restorer or ‘kinsman’! A kinsman is the one who restores — as seen in the book of Ruth, as done by Boaz.
4. The same verse also represents Him as a Guide - He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake!
5. In the fourth verse, He is the Comforting Companion wherein David mentions that the rod and the staff of the Lord comforts him. The rod is used to keep the sheep as a single flock, so that they don’t go helter-skelter and the staff to pull down leaves for the sheep to feed on!
6. In the fifth and sixth verses He presents as the Heavenly Father who provides! David says that the Good Shepherd prepares a table for him before his enemies.
7. The verse also mentions Jesus as one who anoints his head. Oil refers to Anointing. In the Old Testament, before declaring someone as king, his head would be anointed with a horn of oil, by the priest!
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11
Be blessed💕