Promises of the Good Shepherd for His  sheep

One of my favorite childhood memories was watching a shepherd man in his fifties walking with almost 100 sheep through the streets where I grew up in India. I saw the man almost every evening as he returned home with them. I still remember the distinct whistle he made for his sheep frequently. Growing up I was able to relate the promises of the Good Shepherd with the man I met as a young girl. 

The gentle voice of the shepherd kept the sheep calm. His rod was used to pull down leaves from the tall trees and also to keep the sheep together.Every one of those animals walked together no matter how crowded they felt in the narrow road. The sheep were never startled even when the vehicles passed by near them.  Occasionally, the shepherd allowed me and our neighborhood kids to hold the little lamb off from his shoulder.

As a mom of triplets, I often find myself praying to the Good Shepherd to help me raise my little lambs in this wicked world. Dangers lurk around and weariness can often take the center of our lives if we do not rest in the promises of our Good Shepherd.

Understanding Psalm 22 before Psalm 23

Notice this Psalm comes right after Psalm 22 which is about the agonizing pain our Savior went through on the Cross. “My God My God why have you forsaken me”. Our Lord became the Lamb of God for wandering and sinful sheep like you and I.

Jesus died for His Sheep and now it is our call to walk in the abundant promises the Good Shepherd wants to bestow to us.

Once you meditate on Psalm 22, you will realize how important the next Psalm truly is. God is our Good Shepherd and wants to lead His Sheep to safety and rest.

David himself was a shepherd and he knew how it was to take care of his father’s sheep. God asked Samuel the Prophet to anoint this young boy to be the King over Israel.

Picturize the God of this Universe as our Shepherd. It is a unique relationship that only a sheep of His pasture can have with her Shepherd. He knows my name and your name; we are not just a crowd for Jesus.

Here are the 6 abundant promises of the Good Shepherd Psalm 23

1} I/ We will lack no thing:

If Jesus is the Shepherd, then we know for sure that He has the best interests of our lives. He will teach us to be content. Just like the earthly shepherd I mentioned above, our heavenly Shepherd is our provider and sustainer.

Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10

For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:17

2} My/ Our state of mind will be peaceful:

Green pasture is a picture of abundance, but a desert can only be grass filled if the Shepherd went before the sheep arrived and planted the seeds. The seeds had to be watered, and the rocks had to be moved out of the way as well.

Breathe in dear friend for this Good Shepherd has gone before you and prepared a place of rest for you. Maybe you don’t want to refresh, but the Lord will make you to lie down in His comforting promises.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27, NIV

3} My/Our exhausted souls will be revived

This life on this earth is filled with disappointments, hardships, betrayals, and brokenness. Only Christ can renew and restore our lives. God is not indebted to any of His creation for He will restore our health, heal our wounds, and give us back everything that the locusts have eaten. Jeremiah 30:17; Psalm 51 :12

4 } I/ We will be fearless even in the dark valleys:

The Bible doesn’t say “IF” we ever walk, but EVEN when we walk in the darkest valleys, near death experiences, and deep wounds. GOD is with me. God is with you. Our Faithful God is greater and mightier than all our fears, and our unknowns.

His rod will gently nudge us to come back to the fold and not stray away from His promises. Here is a poem by Annie Johnson Flint that I absolutely love: 

5} I/ We will enjoy the anointed blessings at the banqueting table with God in the presence of those who hate us.

Picture the Good Shepherd as our best host preparing a table of abundance and joy in the presence of those who hate us. Christ longs to dine with us and enjoy our fellowship daily just as HE walked and dined with His disciples. 

The Shepherd pours oil on the sheep to prevent the lice from entering its ears, just like that we have been anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit and oil of gladness. We are sealed, called a chosen generation and put a hedge to remind the Enemy of this World that we belong to Jesus.

6} I / We will look forward to dwell in God’s permanent home:

David yearned to dwell closely with the King of Kings even though he, himself had built a castle and a good amount of fortune. May our souls yearn to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with Praise.  

May our heart be where our Home is!

God has set eternity in the hearts of men (Ecclesiastes 4:11). It simply means we do not belong to this world, and our longings must be to connect with the Eternal Father.

So how do we begin to Walk in the joyful promises of the Good Shepherd?

a] Believe that He is your Shepherd and you are His chosen generation.

b] Write on it on your heart and all over the walls of our home.

c] Memorize it so that you won’t forget it (Sheep tend to forget their path)

d] Speak it out loud in your valleys. (Echoes are louder in the valleys so say the name of Jesus aloud)

e] Allow the oil of healing and gladness to flow from you towards everyone else you come in touch with.

f] Rest and abide in His Promises for you and your household.

Here is a prayer that I personalize from Psalm 23 . I have added it in my Subscriber library to print it out as well. 

Let me know how this prayer and post helped you in your valleys.

Reflection:

What is it about these Promises of the Good Shepherd Psalm 23 that makes it so endearing to every Christian?

Do you have a fond memory associated with this Psalm like me?