The Good Spepherd

This next Sunday, in the Lutheran Church, is Good Shepherd Sunday.  A day when we recognize the total trust we can put in Gods providence — divine superintendence.

In the earliest of times a shepherd was one who took complete care of the flock.  God was called Israel’s  Shepherd who went before the flock guiding them to water and food, and protecting them, and giving them shelter.

As time went on Jesus became the Good Shepherd (John 10).  He was the “gate,” the “way,” the “bread,” the “living water,”  the "life" — the dwelling place.” 

When we think about all of the things a shepherd did for his sheep; it helps us to understand the reason that Psalm 23 has become the most precious of Bible verse down through time.

It offers is an extremely reliable God.  

A God who attends to both one’s spiritual needs as well as physical needs.

Read the psalm paying close attention to all that God does for us.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

²   He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters; 

³   he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

   for his name’s sake. 

⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

   I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

   your rod and your staff—

   they comfort me. 

⁵ You prepare a table before me

   in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

   my cup overflows. 

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

   all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

   my whole life long.(Ps. 23)

A God who:

                shelters,

                   anoints,

                      comforts,

                         restores souls, 

                            gives shelters,

                               leads in right paths, 

                                   gives in abundance.

Now asked yourself: in our world today, as well as in the worlds of ancient history, how possible is it for people to believe in such a God?

How possible is it that a Good Shepherd exists among the poor, homeless and hungry of the world?

How is it possible that God is in  a world that is experiencing this pandemic — as well as all world pandemics in the past?

I don’t have an answer to those wonders.

However I will tell you truly, I totally believe and trust in this extraordinarily steadfast and faithful God with all my heart and mind.