The psalm of the Good Shepherd (12 things this Shepherd does for you)

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

How blessed this sheep is!

I was reminded of the portion of the New Testament, where Jesus explains how a good shepherd takes care of the sheep.

If Jesus were to write a psalm describing the care and concern for the sheep, how would it be? (Summarised from John 10)

Let me call it as the The psalm of the Shepherd

I am not the thief or the robber who climbs in by some other way. But I enter by the gate, for I am the Shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for me, and the sheep listens to my voice. I know my sheep and I call my own sheep by name, and I shall lead them out. When I bring out all my sheep, I shall go ahead of them, and the sheep follows me, as they know my voice. they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.

I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

Here are the 12 things our Lord Jesus Christ, the Great and Good Shepherd does for us

1. I know my sheep. The Lord knows you.
2. I call my own sheep by name. The Lord knows your name.
3. I lead them out. The Lord will lead you.
4. I shall go ahead of them. The Lord got ahead of you.
5. They will be saved. The Lord will save you.
6. They will find pasture. The Lord provides for you.
7. They shall have life and have it to the full. The Lord gives you fullness of life.
8. I lay down my life for the sheep. The Lord gave His life for you.
9. I give the eternal life. The Lord gives you eternal life.
10. They shall never perish. You shall never perish.
11. No one will snatch them out of my hand. You are safe.
12. No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. You are safe in the hands of God.

What else the Shepherd does for you? Please share your comments below