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1. Shepherds were intimately acquainted with nature. They could accurately predict the weather by observing the patterns of the wind, observing their animals’ behavior, and reading the stars. 
 
*We are the sheep.  We are not God.  Jesus is God.  He reads our current environment, intuits the storylines of our lives, factors in how we are wired, and then orders our days with wisdom.  We can trust our Shepherd’s providence. 
 
2. Shepherds were clued into their flock. They knew when one was acting abnormally, saw the beginning stages of an illness, and discerned subtle indications of stress.
 
*Other people can be clueless regarding their understanding of us. They miss the obvious signposts.  Our Great Shepherd does not.  Nothing goes unnoticed.  He picks up on everything, sees what’s coming, and prepares future provisions before we need them.  
 
3. Shepherds possessed excellent knowledge about flowers and plants that could be used medicinally to treat their animals.  
 
*Jesus will Shepherd us in all the places we are wounded.  Only He knows what will heal us.  What He prescribes, even to what seems ludicrous, is precisely what is needed for our wellbeing. We don’t know more than our Creator.  
 
4. Shepherds would move their flocks to better grazing areas, pastureland with hidden water sources, according to the seasons and changing climates. 
 
*Change is usually stressful.  Yet our Shepherd promises to lead us to green pastures.  Leaving a place of abundance fills our hearts with anxiety.  Where is He taking us?  Will the next place be as good?  We can know this ~ we can trust Him to define what is good ~ knowing ‘He will withhold no good thing from us.’
 
5. Shepherds were considered unclean because of their lifestyle and proximity to animal waste and disease.  
 
*Jesus was written off because of His associations with sinners and because He touched the dead.  He took the Gospel to the last places religious people would have gone.  Our Shepherd also leads us to places we wouldn’t choose for ourselves.  They aren’t logical.  Advisors may shake their heads.  But our Shepherd knows what sheep don’t know. Wherever He leads, we are safe in His care.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.  Psalm 84:11

Each of us is valuable because we were created in God’s image. We need others to remind us of this when we face challenges that raise questions about God and faith: poverty, sickness, moral failure, natural disasters, experiences that bring shame, and periods of mental frailty that make us vulnerable.   

Soul care is found in God’s family. It is a safe place to be vulnerable because Jesus’s shepherding heart is expressed there. Others know some of our personal life stories and feel our frustrations, sadness, challenges, and doubts.  

Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.  Galatians 6:2 THE MESSAGE

So, I must not have unrealistic expectations of Jesus. He is my everything, but that doesn’t mean I can get everything I need from Him while living in isolation.  I will experience the Shepherd’s care within a community. We are all priests in ‘the priesthood of believers’, ordained to carry out His ministry to the rest of His flock. 

There is security in the company of those who love Jesus because of collective discernment.  We study together, listen to the Holy Spirit, hash things out, wrestle with the scriptures, and humble ourselves to understand how God’s truth impacts us.    

The Shepherd’s arms are available and can be found in communities where His Spirit thrives.  Our part is not to hide when we feel Shepherd-less.  Instead of retreating, we must move toward those who listen and love well.  As we share our burdens, they are given the privilege of enfolding us into the shepherding arms of our Christ.

Lord, I will open myself up more to those who are alive to Your Spirit.  And I will commit to shepherd others when it’s personally expensive and do it as You have cared for me.  Amen

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. You have scattered My flock and driven them away and have not attended to them. Jeremiah 23:1-2

Throughout the Old Testament, God expressed a desire to shepherd His people.  He would do it through kings, priests, and prophets.  Yet most were terrible shepherds, and Israel suffered.  They were people pleasers who lied to the people by promoting false comfort. They were also selfish, caring for themselves at the expense of their flock.

My people have become lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside on the mountains and they have forgotten their resting place.  Jeremiah 50:6

God’s righteous prophets confronted these shepherds because the people needed leaders who would care for them with mercy, love, and justice.  God came to their rescue by making this promise.  “Behold the days are coming when I will raise up a righteous shoot of David.  As King, he will reign and govern wisely.”  Jeremiah 23:5. God announced that He would shepherd them, but He would do it through the ministry of this Davidic figure. 

Go forward 600 years. God is revealing Himself through Jesus, the Great Shepherd.  Mark tells this story.  Jesus and his disciples went by boat to a solitary place.  People from all over ran on foot to follow them.  When Jesus stepped ashore and saw the large crowd, Mark said that Jesus ‘had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.’  Mark 6:34   Jesus had divine eyesight and could feel His Father’s broken heart over the many centuries of spiritual abuse.   

Another time, Jesus looked over Jerusalem and lamented, ‘How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!’  Luke 13:34   Such strong shepherding language.  Jesus longs to do one thing ~ gather them to Himself.

When early Christians hid from persecution in Roman catacombs, they worshipped in caves under the city. They painted the walls with images from their favorite Bible stories that brought them comfort and gave them hope. One of their favorite pictures, discovered by archeologists, was the good Shepherd carrying a lamb over His shoulders. This image still speaks to us today. 

Jesus, my Shepherd, You are right here. Gather me and I will not resist.  Guide me and I will not be defensive.  Protect me and I will stay in Your boundary lines. However you lead, I will follow.  Amen

The Lord is my Shepherd.  Psalm 23:1

King David’s resume would have looked strange to a professional headhunter.  

Shepherd. 12 years

Fugitive. 10 years

King. 40 years

For the first portion of his life, David was in the fields.  Sheep were his companions.  When Samuel anointed him to be king, there was no throne to occupy.  David wouldn’t commence his reign for another decade.  He would live, instead, as a fugitive. 

He became the man on the run. King Saul was envious and wanted David dead. Statistically, Saul had the upper hand, with an army and a pool of military strategists to plot the hunt. Outnumbered, David fled through the Judean hills, searching for caves and crevices. But Saul had not factored in God’s mighty power that works to achieve His purposes for those whom he has called.

It was in this tumultuous period that David wrote Psalm 23.  Perhaps you’ve pictured him in better times writing about green pastures and still waters.  It would explain the rich pastoral imagery, but that wasn’t the context.  David was trying to stay alive.  He needed a Shepherd to guide, protect, and comfort.  Only God could bring this fugitive out of hiding and set him securely on a throne.  

God had done something similar before.  Joseph once told his brothers, “Every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.” Genesis 46:34  Yet Joseph, from a shepherding clan, became a ruler in Egypt. When God writes our story, humble beginnings and cultural biases are irrelevant.  Shepherds could become kings.  (And Nebuchadnezzar, a king who dishonored God, ended up in the wilderness, out of his mind, eating grass.) 

The Hebrew Bible’s unique term for shepherd, ro’eh tzon, means lover of the flock.  Our Jehovah Rohi is a caring father figure.  Isaiah says he “gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.” Isaiah 40:11  

God carried David all the way to the throne, from fugitive to king. God is never outnumbered by our enemies, physical and spiritual. If we had spiritual eyes, we would see Him guiding, protecting, and comforting us as He bears our weight and carries us in His arms.

If someone asked me to name three shepherds in my circle of acquaintances, I couldn’t.  They aren’t prevalent in our western culture.  That wasn’t the case in biblical times.  The Patriarchs were all shepherds, as was Abel, Moses, David, and even Rachel. 

Although I’ve romanticized ancient shepherds who tended sheep, shepherds weren’t highly regarded.  They were rough characters, even dangerous. They often had to fight for rights to water sources and pastures for their sheep.  They had to contend with wild animals who would prey on their flock.  If you encountered a shepherd while walking in the countryside, it could be a perilous encounter.  

Yet, there is an irony.  King Hammurabi of Babylon called himself a shepherd.  And in Homer’s writing, Greek chiefs were called ‘shepherds of the people.’ The royal scepter was a shepherd’s rod that symbolized protection, power, and authority. And in Egypt, the shepherd’s crook was a divine symbol of kingship.

God asked this question through the mouth of Jeremiah. Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?”  Jeremiah 49:19  

In this passage, God had announced impending judgment on Edom, an evil people known for their hostility toward Israel. He warned that He was a lion who would attack their sheepfold.  His blow would be ferocious in the coming invasion.  Edom’s leaders would be helpless shepherds, too weak to protect their people.  

So, my perception of a shepherd has broadened.  There are definitely two sides to them.  They are tender, willing to lay down their lives for their sheep.  But they are formidable, willing to kill to protect them.  

El Rohi is our gentle shepherd who provides for all our needs.  That brings comfort.  

El Rohi is also our protector.  That brings security as we understand that divine justice will always prevail against our adversaries.   

Oh Shepherd, You saved me from wolves to make me yours. Now, with Your staff, care for me and protect me until I’m safely home.  Amen

Recently, I had the opportunity to pray with two people I didn’t know very well at all.  The life we shared in the Spirit was profound.  One of them took me aside and said, “While we were praying, I had a sense that you aren’t fully convinced of the kindness of God toward you.”

I was taken aback and felt sad if that were true.  But then, something stirred, and I was eager for God to show me something new about His kind nature.  It wasn’t until this morning, still half asleep, that the following thought came.  Kindness is most meaningful when you discover that God loved you way before now and made a way to provide what you would need. 

I embraced these beautiful truths all over again.

God planned to give the expensive gift of His Son from before the foundation of the world. All who dwell on the earth will worship the beast, except those whose names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.   Revelation 13:8

Why?

Because He saw me/you – before the foundation of the world. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless.  In love he predestined us for adoption.  Ephesians 1:4

God looked through time. He saw us. Exiles. Lost. Enslaved to sin and the god of this world.  There would be no way to be saved without shedding the blood of One perfect.  Kindness and compassion rose from His heart. “I will give my Son,” He said.  “One I love ~ for those I love.”  And it was done.

We are engraved on the palms of His hands. Not forgotten.  His kindness is still proactive ~ He sees the future, anticipates our needs, and provides.  This is Providence from Jehovah Jireh ~ driven by the power of lovingkindness.

When I look back in time, I see how God provided and blessed. In the present, however, I fear that He won’t continue to be gracious. Words of faith are choked out in environments of deprivation. That’s unfortunate because remembrance is meant to feed my faith. God did show up when things were dire. When I tried to quit the fight for faith, God brought new manna to breathe hope into the crevices of my soul.

Some years ago, I lamented to an older woman I greatly respect that I was afraid God would not answer my prayers.  I had plenty of evidence to support my misgivings. She listened to it all. Her reply was this: “Live joyfully confident!” When I questioned her further, she replied again, “Live joyfully confident!” I understood that she wasn’t going to spoon-feed me the meaning.

The phrase describes what faith is. When all things point to sure doom – I live joyfully confident that God will provide what He has promised.

What ‘joyfully confident’ statement of faith might you need to make today about some area of your life that invites despair?   Affirm this out loud and then ask for the grace to live in joyful anticipation. 

Teach me to dance before the party. Amen

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.  Genesis 22:8

This name for God is only mentioned once in scripture ~ ah, but what an introduction!

Abraham set out for Mt. Moriah with faith.  But his faith did not include the appearance of a real lamb on top of the mountain.  He might have believed God would intervene after slaying Isaac by raising him from the dead.  Hebrews 11:19 reveals this side note. ‘Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.’  Abraham’s faith was in the right person, but he could not predict exactly how God would show His faithfulness.

When faced with a hopeless situation, I give it to my Father.  Then I take it back.  I set out to outline what His intervention will look like.  When God fails to act in the ways I believe He should, my faith begins to falter.  When will I learn that God’s answers are always outside my skillset of ingenuity.  When He provides, it leaves every one of His children open-mouthed in astonishment. 

The foundation for audacious faith is utter hopelessness; the kind where no intervention can be second-guessed.  That way, all my hope is in God.  My eyes are peeled on the horizon, not knowing how, or when, God will appear.  Just because He moved a certain way in someone else’s life doesn’t mean He’ll do the same thing for me. In fact, probably not!  My miracle will be shaped according to my story.  It will address my specific kind of unbelief.  Though others may see a miracle, it may not thrill them like it does me because it was customized for my heart only.

For all who wait today on God’s provision, wait well!  Don’t faint because it appears God is taking too long or moving in a direction that makes no sense to you.  Climb the mountain with faith.  Remember that Abraham and Isaac’s lamb was just around the corner.

For every time I’ve accused You and fainted instead of waiting well, I’m sorry.  Hindsight shows Your faithfulness and strengthens me for all my tomorrows.  Amen

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer  Psalm 18:2

A fortress is a place to hide, a safe place from those who are moving in to wound and kill.  But a fortress is also more than that.  Strategic plans for both offensive and defensive maneuvers are conceived and implemented behind fortified walls.  There, my Father instructs me in ways of war. 

Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress.  Psalm 144:1.

A fortress is a place to re-group. 

There are weapons I’m not yet familiar with. 

There are strategic words of scripture I’ve not yet spoken. 

There are personality profiles of the enemy that are unfamiliar to me. 

There are battles I will lose because I lack instruction.

There will be times I’ll retreat when I should advance. 

A fortress is for training and intelligence.  A fortress is where warriors are fashioned.  In the distance, I hear gunfire and explosions, but it is not my fight until God leads me out with strength and strategy. 

Today, the enemy is at work.  I see it from afar .  I also see it up close in those who have given Satan an open door to work through their lives.  Reckless words and actions come against lovers of Jesus, and it takes preparation inside a Fortress to know how to thrive in this environment.  I also see the enemy at work in my places of faithlessness.  He is intuitive, cunning, and knows how to get in my back door.  My Father shines the light on tiny places of access that are unknown to me.  Sin is confessed, doors are closed, and He gives me a word to prepare me to stand against the opposition.

When I need my Rock, I run for what’s solid and eternal. When I need my Refuge, I rest in everlasting arms. When I need my Fortress, I train under His instruction.  Rested.  Revived.  Re-grouped.    

You are all I need.  This is true, not just a cliché from childhood.  I’m a leaf in the wind without You.  Amen