It’s not that the shepherd is my Lord, but The Lord is my shepherd. Put this way, the statement is significant. It is not my understanding of “shepherd,” however profound, that defines God. Rather, the Lord God is the one who ultimately defines what it means to be a shepherd. Only the Shepherd knows what it means to be a shepherd.

David knew what it meant to be a shepherd, a keeper of sheep. If he did not hesitate to rescue the sheep in his care from the mouths of lions and bears (1 Samuel 17), then he very well knew that the Lord, his God, was capable of much more…of much, much, more.

How does my understanding of God shape the way I understand my role in life? If I am a sheep that is constantly losing my way, that is constantly in need, that is always needing to be rescued from straying into the wrong places, repeatedly, then what shall I expect from my shepherd?

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 peter 2:25.

prayer

lord Jesus once again. once again i call out to you. once again i need you to help me out. rescue me from the lion’s mouth. rescue me from the grip of the grizzly bear. rescue me from the power of those who view me with disgust, who are threatened and in turn threaten me with their silence. their lips conceal ill-judgment. their mouths say something, but it is not from their heart.