“The Lord is my shepherd.” “Shepherd.”

What a great word. God is not here described by his majestic attributes, but he is described in terms of a relationship – the relationship between two parties- a shepherd caring for his sheep!

What does a shepherd do? We are reminded throughout the Scriptures that in this relationship between shepherd and sheep, the shepherd loves the sheep, protects the sheep, searches for the sheep, rescues the sheep, feeds the sheep, and leads the sheep.

Are you one of the sheep of his pasture? The Bible speaks of the church as the flock under his care.

And it’s personal. When it comes to God, you have to get personal. This Psalm is given to us to teach us to say that the Lord is “MY” shepherd.

Listen, this word “my” may be the most significant word in the whole psalm. He is not “a shepherd” or “his shepherd” or “her shepherd,” but he is to be called “my” shepherd. What does this mean?

It means that he knows me and is personally committed to me. And I, to him. So right as we read the beginning of Psalm 23, I want you to remember what Jesus says in John 10:14.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Do you see? It’s personal with him. Too many people think Christianity is primarily about things that you do and don’t do. They figure it is like other religions which emphasize rules and self-improvement. Others think it’s about just avoiding hell, and hoping to go to heaven. Yes. All these are important. But here we learn that it is, at the beginning, to be a relationship of the sheep with the shepherd.

Have you come to the place in your life where you use the word “my” as king David does in Psalm 23:1? It’s personal with him toward his sheep. Is it personal between you and Jesus – the Good Shepherd?

I love this quote by John Piper: “You have capacities for enjoying God that you have yet to realize.”

Since this is true, continue to cultivate your personal relationship with Him.

Musings from Pastor John, April 19