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“The Lord is My Shepherd”

Psalm 23:1

Throughout the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Savior, is revealed to us as a Shepherd. Blessed is that man, blessed is that woman, blessed is that child who can, with a heart of faith, say, “The Lord is my Shepherd!”

In Genesis 49:24, it was promised that “the Shepherd, the stone of Israel,” would come from “the mighty God of Jacob.” Our Shepherd is the mighty God of Jacob. The prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:11) foretold what Christ would do for his sheep when he revealed himself as our Shepherd. — “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” In Ezekiel 34:23, God promised that in this Gospel Age he would gather his elect from the four corners of the earth, both Jews and Gentiles, under one great Shepherd. In chapter 37, verse 24, the prophet tells us plainly that God’s elect “all shall have one Shepherd.” Then, in Zechariah 13:7, we have a plain prophecy of Christ’s death, a prophecy of the good Shepherd laying down his life for his sheep. God himself cries, “Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow!...Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” You are familiar with the passage in John 10 where our Lord Jesus Christ describes himself as our Shepherd. — “I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (v. 11). “I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (v. 14). The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ as “Our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep” and calls his blood “the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20). And the apostle Peter says, “Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25). And he assures us that “when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4).

Divinely Appointed

The Lord Jesus Christ was called and appointed by his Father and our Father to be our Shepherd in the covenant of grace before the world began. And by an act of great, condescending grace and infinite love, he freely, voluntarily agreed to be our Shepherd. Thus, from old eternity, Christ assumed all responsibility for the redemption, salvation, and eternal welfare of God’s elect, his sheep (John 10:14-18).

Qualified Shepherd

Our great and glorious Lord Jesus Christ is abundantly qualified to be our Shepherd. He is the omniscient God. He knows all his sheep, all our maladies and all our needs. He knows where his sheep are, what their case is, and what must be done for them.

Christ, our Shepherd, is also omnipotent. He is the almighty God. He has all power in heaven and earth. He can do all things for us. None of his sheep are or can be in danger. This Shepherd can and will provide for his sheep, protect his sheep, defend his sheep, and save his sheep. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He will guide and direct his sheep in the best path and bring them all at last into the heavenly fold. Oh, may God the Holy Spirit teach us to trust our Savior as the Lord our Shepherd!

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s