Message
David was a shepherd boy before Samuel anointed him as Israel’s king. In fact, Samuel had to send for him while he was taking care of his father’s sheep (). Hence, he fully understood what it meant to be a shepherd, and that was why he acknowledged God as his shepherd in today’s Bible reading.
Sheep enjoy many blessings under their shepherd. Our Lord is, however, not just a shepherd; He is the Good Shepherd (). Beloved, before the blessings of the Good Shepherd can be yours, He must be your Lord, and you must be His sheep. God does not shepherd those who are lords of themselves, neither does He shepherd goats.
These are some of the blessings of having the Lord as your shepherd:
1. You will never lack rest. David said in , “He maketh me to lie down…” When you are God’s sheep, you will not lack sleep. God gives His beloved sleep ().
2. You will be well-fed. Hunger is a stranger to God’s sheep because He causes them to lie down in green pastures (). says, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness…”
3. Your thirst will be satisfied because He will lead you beside still waters (). says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:for they shall be filled.”
4. You will never lack restoration (). In , God promised that He will restore the years that the cankerworm and caterpillar have eaten. No matter what you lose, you are assured of total restoration when the Lord is your shepherd.
5. You will not lack guidance because He will lead you in the paths of righteousness (). Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth (). With the Holy Spirit in charge of your life, you will have absolutely nothing to worry about.
6. You will have nothing to fear because you will enjoy God’s divine presence. Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for He will be with you (). In , He promised to never leave you nor forsake you.
Beloved, acknowledge the Lord as your shepherd in every area of your life. Entrust your life to Him completely, and you will enjoy these blessings and many more. I pray that the Lord will truly manifest Himself in your life, in Jesus' name.