Jesus, My Shepherd

My husband is a recently retired pastor and we’ve been visiting different churches in our area. This past Sunday, at the church we attended, the readings, sermon and hymns all had to do with Jesus as our shepherd. I’ve always liked this image, and it’s probably the one that most influences the way I visualize and experience God “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want” was the sermon hymn for the day. It’s based on the 23rd Psalm and it first appeared in print in the Scottish Psalter of 1650. I hadn’t heard it for a while, and I enjoyed singing it. Listen, and sing along if you like!

For more posts about the Good Shepherd see:

The Good Shepherd

Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Martin Luther on Preachers as Shepherds

Take Heart; it is I

In my prayerful reading of the book of Mark, it seems that Jesus is speaking directly to me over and over.  Most recently, in chapter 6, the disciples are terrified when they saw Him walking past them on the sea.  They thought it was a ghost!  Jesus immediately sets them straight — “Take heart;  it is I.”  Then He adds, “Do not be afraid.”

I realize how often I need to hear those words.  Christ is at work in the world, but I don’t always recognize Him.  I see chaos, problems, uncertainty, and like the disciples, I am frightened.  What I fail to remember is that Jesus is with me and He is in control. As Psalm 23 puts it:

“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.”  Psalm 23:4

And in the book of Romans, the apostle Paul says:

” If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

The King of the universe is on my side, not acting as a giant gum ball machine, to fulfill my every craving, but working everything (even the bad, scary things) out for my good. (Romans 8:28).  He will never abandon me, any more than a mother would abandon her nursing child (Isaiah 49:50). I don’t have to be anxious because He is our rock and our fortress (Psalm 18:2).

No matter what is going on, I can rest in His peace and His presence, as He tells me:

“Take heart;  it is I.”

For more on the gospel of Mark see:

Go Home

We Never Saw Anything Like This!

Pay Attention to What You Hear

 

 

Quiet and Peaceable Lives

Almost every Sunday in church, we pray for the leaders or our country, in the hope that their work will enable us to “live quiet and peaceable lives.” Isn’t that what most of us desire above all else? The thought comes directly from these verses in 1 Timothy:

“ urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 1:1-2

I’ve been reading and watching a good bit of historical fiction these days, and it has made me realize how fortunate we are in our country these days.  Most of us alive today have not experienced the day-to-day chaos of war.  We’ve never had to flee our homeland to escape persecution;  we’ve never been occupied by a foreign power;  we’ve not had to make hard choices about whether to resist or support an oppressor.  We don’t need to fear being taken off to a concentration camp, or worry about where our next meal is coming from.  This is a blessing!

When I think about true peace and serenity, the first thing to come to my mind is the Shepherd’s Psalm, number 23.

 

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley ,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 your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Even if we ever do experience the worst, our Shepherd is with us.  He will provide for us that which is truly needful;  He will keep our soul safe.  Not even war or death can remove our peace in Him.  This is an even greater blessing.  Thanks be to God!

For more on Psalm 23, visit this post:

A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller– Book Review

 

Like a Shepherd Lead Us

When I wrote a previous post, talking about leaders as shepherds, I was reminded of this hymn.  The writer is unknown, but it first appeared in a children’s hymnal compiled by Dorothy Thrump  in 1832;  turns out adults like it, too.  The words are clearly inspired by the 23rd Psalm, and Christ’s words in the 10th chapter of John:  “I am the good shepherd.”

An interesting story about  how this hymn saved a life was reported by Ira Stankey,, a musician who worked closely with Dwight Moody.  Follow the link below if you would like to read it:

https://www.sermonwriter.com/hymn-stories/savior-like-shepherd-lead-us/

Then enjoy this one, as I do!