Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 23:1-6
Ps 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even 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 overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
John 10:14-18
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
While this Psalm is probably the most loved and the most read of all the Psalms, its imagery is probably foreign to most in our country today. Very few people in our land know anything about sheep or shepherds, especially as they were tended to at the time this was written. While this Psalm is not directly quoted in the New Testament, Jesus often refers to the same imagery of sheep and shepherds. He calls himself the “good shepherd” as he leads us and protects us today.
Just as the shepherd knew each of his sheep and each of them recognized him and his voice, Jesus knows each of us today. The shepherd was keenly aware of the special needs of each of his sheep and Jesus is just as aware of ours today.
He provides our every need to make us spiritually strong and healthy. He protects us from all the evils around us and delivers us from the dangers of life. He has willingly given his life for us so that we can have eternal life with him. He is our “good shepherd” and he will never abandon us or forsake us. Jesus loves us.
Heavenly Father I am thankful for your love and for the love of Jesus that has been shown to me. Thank you for your love that sent him to earth. Thank you for his love that endured the suffering and death to deliver me from sin. Thank you for teaching me to love you, to love Jesus and to love other people around me. Use me to lead others to Jesus so they can know his love. Give your healing and your peace to those who are sick and hurting. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
