Our Shepherd

Psalm 23:1a, "The Lord is my SHEPHERD."

      Why do sheep need a shepherd?  Many kinds of animals take care of themselves.  Why not sheep?  Phillip Keller, in his book "A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23," says,  "Sheep do not ''just take care of themselves' as some might suppose.  They require, more than any other class of livestock, endless attention and meticulous care."

      Sheep tend to stray, so they need someone to guide them in the right direction.  Sheep need good grazing ground and fresh, clean water.  If left to themselves, they will graze over and over on the same pastures until there is no good grass left.  If they are unable to find clean water, they will drink from polluted streams and puddles containing disease producing organisms.  In order to thrive, sheep must be free from insects and parasites and from anything else that will cause them agitation or fear.  Sometimes sheep become tangled in brambles that catch in their wooly coats and hold them fast.  One of their greatest dangers is becoming cast, lying down and rolling over in such a way that they are unable to get up, and only the diligent shepherd can rescue them before they die or are attacked by wild animals.  They have no sharp teeth or claws, and many lack horns, so they are relatively defenseless again predators.

      Perhaps the analogies are already obvious to you.  No wonder we are likened to sheep who need a shepherd.  We tend to stray into places and situations that will cause us trouble.  When we are hungry and thirsty, we tend to eat and drink indiscriminately from the readily available sources the world offers, offerings polluted with philosophies and actions that are in opposition to God's commands.  We are besieged with problems and irritations that steal our peace and joy, destroy our appetites, and disrupt our sleep.  We can become so entangled in the thoughts and events of the world that we need help to escape.  We can become so cast down that we fail to thrive.  All of these situations make us vulnerable to the predators of both the natural world and the supernatural world.  When Satan and his minions see us in a helpless situation, they move in for the kill.

      Do we need a Shepherd?  You bet we do!  As the hymn says,  "I Need Thee Every Hour."  In fact, I would say,  "I need Thee every second. 

Please do not leave me for even a moment."  And you know what--God has promised that He will never leave us, not even for an instant.  WE HAVE A SHEPHERD!  Praise God!!!!!