Pastor Larry Sundin
Most of us are familiar with Psalm 23. This Psalm is often read at memorial services. It is a beloved passage of Scripture by many. It’s a Psalm of David, who used this metaphor of a Shepherd to describe His personal relationship with God. The first few verses read like this: The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3
David describes his relationship by using the personal name of God, Yahweh: The eternal, self-sufficient, inexhaustible name of God. This is the God who exists to always do good for His people. This is the God who is not limited by time and space. This is the God who is completely self-sufficient. He needs nothing outside Himself to be God. He needs no wisdom from anyone. He needs no power. He does not even need to be worshiped. He is the inexhaustible God—the source of unlimited wisdom and power, life and peace, goodness and mercy. And David identifies this eternal, self-sufficient, inexhaustible being as his loving shepherd.
Now, if you are to call God your Shepherd it implies something about you—it acknowledges that you are in a relationship with God where you are completely dependent on Him, like a sheep. Do you ever see yourself this way? Think about the life of a sheep. Sheep are the most helpless of all animals. They’re completely dependent on their shepherd. They need him to provide their food, their safety, and even their rest. They are prone to wander and oblivious to the dangers. But when they’re in the hands of a loving shepherd, they don’t have to worry about a thing.
That’s what David describes about his life with God. He describes his Shepherd’s care for him by saying: He makes me lie down in green pastures. What kind of a sheep lies down in green pasture? A sheep that has eaten its fill. A sheep that is content. A sheep that is free from all fear.
That’s what David describes here. He has a God who cares about the everyday worries of life: what you will eat, what you will wear, where you will lay your head. What David pictures for us about his life with God is this: God is not some distant, uncaring force but a loving shepherd who is intimately acquainted with your every need. He knows just what you need and out of the inexhaustible riches of His grace He is always there to meet your need. He’s a good shepherd.
At Rock Springs we exist to help people find and follow the Good Shepherd so we can experience contentment, security, and life in a world that constantly robs us of our peace. Perhaps you’d like to know more about following the Good Shepherd with us. If so, why not join us this summer, as we gather to worship Him every Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Ballroom. We’d love to help you restore your soul this summer! Blessings.