Quote from Forum Archives on November 14, 2008, 2:34 pm

Posted by: <@...>

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.  Psalm 23:1 KJV

 

I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!  Psalm 91:2 Amp

 

 

When David stood before Saul in I Samuel 17:34-36, he spoke of his role as a shepherd.  "And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep.  And when there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it.  Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine (Goliath) shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God!"

 

It is certain that the sheep in David's care saw the lion and the bear too.  Lions and bears are so much larger than sheep.  They have long claws and sharp teeth for ripping apart their prey; sheep do not have such things.  Imagine a sheep charging a lion or a bear in its own strength.  It would doubtless be an ugly sight.  *

 

In Psalm 23, David reminds himself that he also has a shepherd - One Who is far more faithful to His sheep than David could ever be to his father's flock.  One Who holds all power in heaven and in earth.  It's easy to forget sometimes, but the fact remains:  Those who are born again have a Shepherd.  His name is Jesus. The responsibilities of the Shepherd are many.  He cares for the sheep.  What is the responsibility of the sheep?  To follow the Shepherd and obey His voice. 

 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27-28 KJV

 

Yes, David's sheep saw the lion and the bear.  They saw them run into the flock and scatter the terrified sheep.  They saw them take a lamb and march out defiantly.  They saw something else, too.  They saw a shepherd who loved his sheep so much that he put his own life on the line to rescue one little lamb.  They saw the mighty warrior within the gentle shepherd.  And they saw restoration of the flock.

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.  Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4 KJV

 

Satan wants us to forget our Shepherd.  He wants us to run from the Shepherd instead of to Him.  He wants us to believe that our Shepherd is powerless against his strategies and that the battles we face are hopeless.  At times, he bombards us with such lies.  Yes, they are lies.

 

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?  Isaiah 14: 12, 16 KJV

 

Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep.  Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. Revelation 5:5

 

Oh be careful, little ears, what you hear

Oh be careful, little ears, what you hear

For the Father up above

He is looking down in love

So be careful, little ears, what you hear

 

* This is by no means a remark against spiritual warfare.  Those who understand spiritual warfare know that they do not go against the enemy in their own strength.

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