The Psalm or the Shepherd

Scripture Reading:

“The Lord is my shepherd…”

Psalm 23:1

Aquaint little town in suburban America was sizzling with the heart of excitement. Two world-renowned orators
were coming to compete in literary reading. The piece? The oft-quoted psalm in the Bible: Psalm 23 – The Good Shepherd.
Each orator was to recite the psalm in his own original version and rendition.

On the appointed evening, the largest auditorium was filled to capacity. Yet, more people were coming and no
longer could they be accommodated, Giant monitors were hurriedly set up outside so that all who came may hear and
see. Yes, they all came – young and old, men and women, gentle-folks and peasant-folks…everyone was eager to witness
the much-awaited contest.

Then, he appeared – the first of the two, the spotlight focused. He walked towards center-stage. The posture
was erect; gait confident; stride even sturdy. He was at the prime of youth. An aura of strength, power, determination,
sophistication and authority surrounded him.

Then, he began: “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want…” On and on he recited the psalm to the
full.

The delivery was Impeccable. Diction was crystal-clear. Elocution flowed like liquid gold and silver. Pitch and tone
conformed to literary glides of ups and downs and fricatives. It was flawless. A sterling rendition of the twenty-third
psalm, The Good Shepherd.

As soon as the last verses of the psalm escaped from his lips… “Only goodness and love will follow me all the days
of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come”, the crowd roared in approbation. People leaped to
their feet…standing ovation! Hands were pink and red from vigorous clapping.

The light were turned to bright. Now the more visible form of the first orator elicited a wider response. The
audience stomped its feet. Catcalls pierced the air. And he left the stage amidst the booming voices that shouted. BRAVO!
BRAVO! BRAVO!”

The lights dimmed once more. The audience settled down. Then, he came – the second of the two orators. He
was elderly. His hair was streaked with white and gray. His stride was measured and purposeful. His head erect; his eyes
level and focused ahead – as if seeing the reality of a vision. His face was composed and serene. His expression mellowed.
His whole person projected dignity of spirit as well as dignity of manner and bearing.

He then began. “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want…” He went on …and on…. And on …. Then
it was finished! He took a deep and gentle bow and left the stage.

But there was no applause from the audience. No thundering roar. No feet-stomping. No leaping from the seats.
No standing ovation. No shouts of “BRAVO!” Nothing. Absolutely nothing of these.

Instead, the audience sat still as if mesmerized. Not a soul stirred. The hush was thick and the total silence hung
solid and heavy.

Heads were bowed. Hands were clasped. Eyes were closed. And tears flowed freely. They stayed like this for
fifteen on more minutes. Held-bound by a seeming spell which no one at the moment could put a finger into.
 The following morning, the front page of the town’s leading newspaper printed in bold letters: “WHY THE GREAT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RESPONSES OF THE AUDIENCE TOWARD THE TWO ORATORS?”

A seasoned and veteran critic unlocked the key through his explanation. He wrote: “The young orator, superb in
his delivery … KNEW THE PSALM. The elderly orator, with the wisdom of one who has lived a life... KNEW THE SHEPHERD.”

How about you my friend? Is it the psalm that you know? Or is it the Shepherd?

To know the Shepherd is to experience the depth and fullness of His love. He loves His sheep not because it is
good. He loves His sheep not because it deserves His love, but because love is His essence. Love is His nature. And there
is no other way He would relate with His sheep except in love.

The biblical shepherd’s devotion and love for his sheep is total and absolute. And it is this imagery of the good
shepherd that Jesus chooses to illustrate His love, care, provision and protection for us, His flock.

Why does a shepherd care for his sheep so much? Let’s examine some characteristics of the sheep; know its very
nature, to better understand why a really good shepherd lavishes it with selfless dedication and sacrificial love.

THE NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A SHEEP

The sheep, by its very nature, is one of the most timid of animals. It is weak and cannot be expected to tend for itself.

To illustrate:

1. The sheep is very much afraid of running water. You cannot make it come near the edge of a running
water stream. More so, it cannot be forced to drink from water that flow. This fears is instinctive. It knows
that if it falls, it would be totally helpless since its wool would get soaked and heavy. It knows it would
drown. A sheep that falls into the waters is tantamount to a man swimming at the beach with oversized
heavy winter coat worn over layer of thick shirts and padded sweaters. Naturally it would not be able to
swim. Of course it would not be able to move. That is why Psalm 12:2 it says: “He makes me lie down in
green pastures. Beside the still waters He leads me.”

What happens if there are no still waters within the vicinity of the pastureland? The shepherd who cares
enough for his sheep would improvise. He would gather rocks and stones from a far and near. At a
considerable distance from running stream, he would pile them up around to make a pool. Going back
and forth he would go till the pool is filled with water to the brim. Then, gently would he lead his sheep
one by one – to make them drink their fill, without fear and worry. So the sheep can drink to their hearts’
content in peace,

2. The body weight of the sheep is too heavy for its legs to carry. Once the sheep stumbles and falls into a
hollow on the ground, no matter how shallow, it could never put itself aright. Nor can it rise up to its feet
again. On its back it would be lie waiting… waiting to be found. If the shepherd does not come, it would
stay in the hollow where it has fallen. On its back it would die of intense desert heat, or die of extreme
thirst and hunger if not found on time.

3. The sheep has very poor eyesight. It cannot see very well, in a way, it is somehow almost blind. In
pastureland, it won’t be able to distinguish between fresh grass and vegetation from brambles, thorns
and thickets. Many time it is nibbling from a bed clustered cacti. Hence, thorns would prick its nose and
sharp weeds cut deep into its lip’s soft, tender flesh.

Also because of its blurred vision, the sheep would from time to time, fall deep crevices or ledges at the
sides of the steep cliffs. The shepherd would dash to the rescue by hooking it up with the curved end of
his staff.
 4. When a wolf comes to attack, the helpless sheep would just huddle close together. They would bleat
their lungs out in terror, but not a single one would attempt to run away from the predator. Without the
shepherd, the whole flock is easy prey to the wolf. The enemy could kill and eat them all to its heart’s
content, and no lamb would dare to leave the flock. That is why without the shepherd, the sheep would
surely die. The sheep, therefore, need the shepherd’s constant loving attention and protection.

5. In the twilight or evening, when the shepherd leads the whole flock back into the barn, is the rime he
lavishers extra care and attention over each individual sheep.

 He would make each one drink of refreshing waters from the trough conveniently positioned by
the doorway of the barn.

 One by one he would inspect them; then anoint with oil the head, the face, or whichever part of
the sheep’s body is bleeding, wounded or cut.

 Tenderly he would pluck out prickly cactus thorns from the sheep’s nose and lips. One by one he
would take them out, then apply a healing balm to the bruises.

After all these individual acts of caring are finished, the good shepherd would then coax each one to go inside.
And lastly before he retires, he would do his last act. Of service. He would secure and close the gate for the night.

As a final show of love, protection and dedication for the welfare of his sheep, he would lie down to sleep – but
stretch the length of his body across the expense of the gate. By doing so, the message is clear: No one –not a person,
nor an animal, could enter that gate and harm his precious flock. “Over my dead body! Over my dead body! is the silent
signal that the good shepherd sends by such an act, even as he sleeps. He would lay down his life for them. (John 10:11)

There are times, though, when a single sheep would habitually and deliberately wander away from the flock.
Remember that sheep have very poor eyesight? That is the reason why the shepherd needs to be constantly talking, or
whistling, or singing throughout the day… so the sheep would be guided by the sound of his voice. His own sheep know
his voice. And his own sheep obey and follow him. Well, most of them do. But not all. Not all.

The one sheep that defies the voice of its shepherd would someday get lost. When it happens, the shepherd
would leave the rest of the flock to patiently search for the missing one. As soon as he finds it, he would lead it back to
the fold.

However, if this thing happens again, and again, and again, the good shepherd would do something drastic. He
would break one leg of the prodigal sheep. No! Not out of cruelty nor punishment but out of great love and concern, lest
the sheep come to harm one day due to its repeated disobedience.

Once on leg of the sheep is broken, what does the good shepherd do? He would pick up the sheep. Rest it over
one of his shoulders, and keep it there wherever he goes. For as long as the broken leg has not yet healed, the shepherd
would lovingly and tenderly carry the sheep – notwithstanding that it is heavy, and that carrying it at all times is
inconvenient and cumbersome.

But after sometime, when the broken leg is fully recovered and then the sheep could once more walk on its own
when set upon the ground … GUESS WHO KEEPS ON FOLLOWING THE SHEPHERD WHEREVER HE GOES? THE SHEEP
WHO’S LEG THE GOOD SHEPHERD ONCE BROKE, OF COURSE!

So, friend be a good sheep and submit yourself totally and willingly to the care of the Good Shepherd.

“Living like a sheep can bring you incredible peace of mind! The Good Shepherd knows about his sheep. He
understand their needs and wants. What is best for them and what would bring the harm. He knows when to set them
free, and when to bind them tight. The Good Shepherd is the Good Master. He is the expert on everything that happens,
whether seen or unseen. The sheep that always trust and follows the Shepherd would always have its needs met at the
right time. The Shepherd would give it the best that He has time. The Shepherd would give it the best that He has always!”
(Experiencing God – modified)

Come close to the Shepherd. He is speaking. Come close to hear, and know His voice. Know His voice… and do
whatever He tells you.

Come close to Him. He is revealing Himself. Come, He’s making himself known. Recite His psalm: “The Lord is
my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want…” whisper it like a prayer. It is a prayer. Believe what it says. Claim its
promise. A promise of hope, you need hope.

Pray the whole of Psalm 23. Let each word find a home and be etched deep within your heart.
KNOW THE PSALM! Know it well.
But better yet… KNOW THE SHEPHERD OF THE PSALM!

PRAYER:

Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd, I ask you to please shepherd me. I am weak – I need your strength, care and protection.
My spiritual eyes are at times blinded by the glare of the material world. During those moments please let me hear You
clearly, so that I may be guided only by the sound of Your voice.

At time when I become prodigal and stray away from Your flock, please lead me back home. YOU ARE MY HOME. Jesus,
My Good Shepherd. YOU ARE MY HOME! Amen.

POINTS FOR REFLECTION:

Week 1:
1. What are the 3 things that make you special to the SHEPHERD?
2. List 5 things which you need to submit to God for Shepherding.

Week 2:
1. Write a letter of fresh and new commitment to God… To follow and obey Him as your Good Shepherd.
2. Read each letter to the group.

Week 3:
1. List down specific ways how you can develop “reflexive giving” – (or giving without being asked) as you try to
develop more intimate personal relationships with the people you pastor. (Of course, you need to be very
discerning on when or when not to do this).
2. For this evening’s meeting, practice the following activity:

 Anticipate a need and meet that need of your fellow members in the group. This exercise focuses on how you
can better serve one another.

AT A GLANCE:

 To know the Shepherd is to experience the depth and fullness of His love.
 Know the nature and characteristics of a sheep.
 Be a good sheep and submit yourself totally and willingly to the care of the Good Shepherd.