He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. – Psalm 23:3
Sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated by herders from ancient times. Many cultures have been based on herding. For example, the Bedouin people of the Middle East have been semi-nomadic herders for thousands of years. Shepherds frequently move their flocks to new pastures to keep both the vegetation and the sheep healthy. The sheep must be led from one place to another. Psalm 23, probably the best known of all the psalms, lays out the role of the shepherd as leader, protector, preparer, and provider. One shepherd in England said that American ranchers can drive their cattle, but you cannot drive sheep. They must be led.
W. Phillip Keller’s little book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, recounts his life as a shepherd of a flock in Africa. In discussing today’s verse, he talks of a “cast” sheep—one who has rolled over onto her back and would die if not found quickly and rolled back. Once he got her to her feet—the flock was primarily made up of ewes—the shepherd would have to hold her erect and rub her legs to restore circulation. Only then could she walk again. Even so, she might still stumble and collapse. Keller writes, “Aren’t we like sheep, susceptible to being stuck in a cast position in desperate need of our shepherd to restore us to an upright posture?”
Scripture often refers to people as sheep. God is the ever-attentive Shepherd, always looking out with both strength and love for His “flock.” He will raise you up when you fall. He will lead you in the paths He has for you. Sheep learn who cares for them and develop a strong loyalty to the shepherd. They know his voice. Pray for a similar devotion to the Shepherd of your soul. Listen as He leads you and be attentive to His Word. By your obedience, He is glorified. Pray for pastors across America who are called to be shepherds, that they will also be obedient to their Master and lead their congregations in His truth, strength, and love.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 10:1-16
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
