EPISODE 253-THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD 1 – WHO IS THE LORD?

Tuesday 3rd October, 2023

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD 1 – WHO IS THE LORD?

” The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 (KJV)

Within these few days, I want us to fellowship and masticate and absorb
this beautiful Psalm of David (Psalm 23).

This is one of the most memorized Psalm and chapters of the Bible.
It reveals David’s understanding of the relationship he had with God.

This is not a Psalm which is just for comfort in times of trials. It is not
a Psalm which is to be read just at funerals. It is a Psalm which
interpretes our organic relationship with God.

We mostly focus on the things the Lord does for us, instead of who the Lord
is to us.

Knowing who the Lord is to you makes your walk with Him effective and
nourishing.

The reality of the LORD being a Shepherd is deeply rooted in the heart of
every man of Faith.

It wasn’t just David who saw the Lord as His Shepherd, Jacob in Genesis,
called the LORD, the Shepherd and stone of Israel (Genesis 49:24)

By revelation of scriptures, we also see that it was the LORD, who is the
Shepherd of Israel, led Joseph as a flock (Psalm 80:1).

David didn’t just refer to the Lord as the Shepherd of others or the
Shepherd of his fathers. David personalised this reality of the Lord.

He said “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD!”.

What a consciousness and bold statement!

David knew what it means for the Lord to be his Shepherd. Remember he was a
shepherd of his father’s flock (1 Samuel 17:34) And the Lord also made him
shepherd of Israel as a king ( 2 Samuel 5:2-4).

As a shepherd he cared and protected his father’s flock. How much more when
he has the LORD as his Shepherd?

As a Shepherd the Lord doesn’t just sit on His throne to rule from a
distance. He has an intimate and personal relationship with His sheep. He
is always in the midst of His flock leading them in the way they should go.
He leads them to a place where they will enjoy and not lack provision.

“The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd.
I always have more than enough.” Psalm 23:1 (TPT)

“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.” (Message Translation).

To have the Lord as your Shepherd means you don’t have to be need
conscious. Yours is to be conscious of the LORD who is your Shepherd.

Pause for a moment and give a thought to this:

“Who is the LORD?”

David was referring to the Lord God of Israel, not any other god.

Now Jesus is the LORD God of Israel made flesh (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16).

This Jesus who is God is our GOOD SHEPHERD.

Jesus is not just the lamb of God, He is also the Good Shepherd and
Overseer of your soul ( 1 Peter 2:25).

Jesus clearly spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd:

” I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep…I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” John
10:11,14 (ESV)

Beloved your Shepherd is the best Shepherd, He is the LORD JESUS. Let Him
be your consciousness and not your needs.

Selah