In the six inspired and inspiring verses of the twenty-third Psalm we read: "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
" When we are suffering from the loss of a soul mate; a life's partner and our dearest friend; the Shepherd's Psalm is a source of comfort.
It begins with a comforting concept, "The Lord is my shepherd.
" Can you think of a more tender and caring way to think of God than as a shepherd? I'm thankful that it doesn't say, "the Lord is my cowboy.
" The two contrasting images are direct opposites.
The cowboy drives the herd to market.
The shepherd leads the sheep to pasture.
Our God is not a driver but a leader and a feeder.
There is comfort in that concept.
The cowboy drives the cattle with whistling rope and smoking six-gun.
The shepherd's staff is a long thin pole, which when tapped on the flank turns the sheep closer to the shepherd.
In the west we like to put a crook on that staff.
The eastern shepherd avoided that, so as not to catch a leg and do damage.
Gentleness was and still is, the main characteristic of the Palestinian shepherd.
Furthermore, with a hot branding iron, the cowboy burns his brand on the hide of the cattle.
The shepherd has a different way of identification.
The bible tells us that he gives each sheep a name.
To a stranger each one may look the same, but the shepherd lives with his flock.
He can identify each sheep and gives each one a name.
Like a domesticated pet, when its name is called it comes, because it recognizes the voice of its shepherd.
How comforting to think that as a part of the flock of faith, we can relate to our Savior on a first name basis.
He knows the peculiar characteristics, which make us unique.
Everything in this immortal poem, which was intended to be sung, is so personal.
"The Lord is MY shepherd.
Not a shepherd, or even the shepherd.
It is one thing to know the Shepherd's Psalm and to recite it from memory.
It may be another thing to know the Shepherd Himself.
Everything promised in this song becomes real, including "the house of the Lord forever," when Jesus becomes our Personal Savior.
We can also find comfort in that phrase, "I shall not want.
" Sheep have many needs; for water, pasture, protection and so forth.
We human sheep also have many needs.
But we have only one want, to know and be known by our Heavenly Father.
In the flock of faith that want is met, and with it all our basic and essential spiritual needs.
To be in a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, is to have fulfilled, everything that is of eternal value.
" When we are suffering from the loss of a soul mate; a life's partner and our dearest friend; the Shepherd's Psalm is a source of comfort.
It begins with a comforting concept, "The Lord is my shepherd.
" Can you think of a more tender and caring way to think of God than as a shepherd? I'm thankful that it doesn't say, "the Lord is my cowboy.
" The two contrasting images are direct opposites.
The cowboy drives the herd to market.
The shepherd leads the sheep to pasture.
Our God is not a driver but a leader and a feeder.
There is comfort in that concept.
The cowboy drives the cattle with whistling rope and smoking six-gun.
The shepherd's staff is a long thin pole, which when tapped on the flank turns the sheep closer to the shepherd.
In the west we like to put a crook on that staff.
The eastern shepherd avoided that, so as not to catch a leg and do damage.
Gentleness was and still is, the main characteristic of the Palestinian shepherd.
Furthermore, with a hot branding iron, the cowboy burns his brand on the hide of the cattle.
The shepherd has a different way of identification.
The bible tells us that he gives each sheep a name.
To a stranger each one may look the same, but the shepherd lives with his flock.
He can identify each sheep and gives each one a name.
Like a domesticated pet, when its name is called it comes, because it recognizes the voice of its shepherd.
How comforting to think that as a part of the flock of faith, we can relate to our Savior on a first name basis.
He knows the peculiar characteristics, which make us unique.
Everything in this immortal poem, which was intended to be sung, is so personal.
"The Lord is MY shepherd.
Not a shepherd, or even the shepherd.
It is one thing to know the Shepherd's Psalm and to recite it from memory.
It may be another thing to know the Shepherd Himself.
Everything promised in this song becomes real, including "the house of the Lord forever," when Jesus becomes our Personal Savior.
We can also find comfort in that phrase, "I shall not want.
" Sheep have many needs; for water, pasture, protection and so forth.
We human sheep also have many needs.
But we have only one want, to know and be known by our Heavenly Father.
In the flock of faith that want is met, and with it all our basic and essential spiritual needs.
To be in a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, is to have fulfilled, everything that is of eternal value.