Focus: Sheep, Worry Not!

Text: Ps.23:1

"The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want."

This is a psalm of David, who himself was earlier in his life a shepherd to animals and later in his life a shepherd to human beings, namely, Israel. To a few sheep and to Israel, he was their Shepherd, but to the Lord, he was a sheep. The lesson here is that we must draw the line between being a shepherd to people and being a sheep to the Lord Himself.

The covenant God of Israel was David's Shepherd. David was making a public psalmodic declaration that God was his personal Shepherd. In psalm 80:1, we read, "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth." The Lord is the Shepherd of His people. Jacob testified, "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which FED me all my life long unto this day" (Gen.48:15). The word 'fed' in Hebrew is the same for 'shepherd.' He was saying that the God of Abraham and Isaac SHEPHERDED him. He was fed and led by God. He was provided for and protected by God.

In John's Gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ says, "I am the GOOD Shepherd." The writer of Hebrews presents Him as "the GREAT Shepherd of the sheep," and Peter describes Him as "the CHIEF Shepherd" (Jh.10:11; Heb.13:20; 1Pet.5:4). 

David's Shepherd is now your own Shepherd, and as your Shepherd, He is both good and great, and the chief of all shepherds.

David makes you understand that with the Lord as your Shepherd, you have nothing to worry about. Psalm 23 is a psalm that shows you the graciousness of your Shepherd's heart and the need for you to totally trust in Him. With God as your Shepherd, active and operational in your life, you will surely lack nothing. 

A true shepherd cares for his sheep. A good shepherd cares for the safety and sustenance of his sheep. He makes sacrifices for them. He puts his life on the line for them.

We read of some shepherds in Luke, "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Lk.2:8). That is the sacrifice that a true shepherd is willing to make for his sheep. He watches over them by night. While they sleep in an open field, the shepherd watches over them. He sacrifices his sleep to keep them safe. He attends and tends to them, and superintends them. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Lk.12:32). He provides for all their needs.

The Lord God of Israel is your Shepherd, and you will never lack a thing. He will not withhold good things from you. He will not deny or deprive you of good things. Your Shepherd-God is good and great, and He is the chief of shepherds. Worry not! Fear not! Be not anxious for anything. Psalm 23 is a psalm of trust. In this psalm you have the revelation of who your Shepherd is and the role He ably plays in your life. 

The sheep only suffers when he goes astray or wanders away from his shepherd. Have faith in your Shepherd; He never fails! Say boldly and confidently to yourself, 'I shall not lack.' The presence of your Shepherd is the absence of lack in your life. I say to you again and again, Worry not! Fear not! Do not trouble yourself! Be rest assured that your Shepherd will do the needful!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter