The Shepherd of Our Souls
Psalm 23:1-3, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake” (NKJV).
I am amazed when I consider the sharp contrast between my natural quest for holiness and the reality I face when I read passages like the one above. So often I try really hard to earn God’s favor, as though my righteousness depends on what I have to offer Him. Then, I find reason to rejoice over the beautiful expression of God’s love and provision so masterfully wrapped in the verbs of the 23rd Psalm. Look closely again at God’s numerous actions on our behalf: “He makes me…”, “He leads me…”, “He restores me…”, and He does it all for His name's sake.
Picture the scene, if you will. The shepherd is caring for His sheep. In His care, the sheep want for nothing. In His guidance, they find rest. Following the Shepherd, they are refreshed, protected, and restored. Not because of who they are or what they have to offer. Not because of their talent, skill, or intelligence. This is the work of the Shepherd, who cares for His sheep.
In 1 Peter 2:24-25, the Apostle explains that Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls. He writes,
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
What joy and peace we can experience when we rest in the confidence that He is leading us in His love. Only God knows what the path of life holds as we continue our journey into the future. If we were being honest, trusting Him, though difficult at times, is a no-brainer. We tend to make decisions based on what we see and experience at that present moment, but God sees the big picture. He has an aerial view of time and space and is much more qualified to make the decisions that will determine the outcome of our lives, if only we would let Him.
The Apostle Paul describes it as “Walk[ing] by faith and not by sight”(1 Corinthians 5:7). Like the sheep of Psalm 23, we walk according to what the Shepherd sees; faithfully following Him, trusting that he will meet our every need.
Today, ask God to lead you into a place of rest and peace, in Christ. As you continue to place your confidence firmly in who God is, consider this beautiful portrait of our Good Shepherd, painted with the words of the Prophet Isaiah,
“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young” (Isaiah 40:11 NKJV).