Lord, You are my Shepherd
Today we begin sharing another song from our latest CD, Before Your Throne. It is the track entitled, Psalm 23, Lord, You Are My Shepherd(click track title to play song).
The setting for the Psalm 23: King David, who wrote the psalm, grew up and worked as a shepherd. So he knew a lot about sheep and shepherding. He loved the metaphor of seeing God, or the Lord, as a shepherd. The shepherd’s job is to care for his flock, making sure they are safe and nourished at all times.
Sheep are vulnerable to danger from wolves and other predators because they cannot run very fast, and they are not always smart enough to avoid danger. To care for them correctly and safely, sheep require a shepherd to take them to the fertile areas to graze, to protect them from predators and other hazards, and to keep them together so that they don’t stray from the group. This is the job of the shepherd. God does this for us, if we submit to His will.
Today let us begin exploring Psalm 23 line by line and phrase by phrase:
Lord, You Are My Shepherd. God is like our shepherd. He helps us to find food, water, work, love, friends and all that we need. He also protects us from evil. He gently or firmly prods us when we step out of line and begin to stray into danger. Sheep are not the smartest animals, as they need constant guidance. It seems fitting that the Lord would refer to us as sheep in need of a Shepherd.
Prayer:
Lord, we are all sheep that have gone astray. We look to You, our Shepherd to protect us and keep us safe. Amen.