Jesus is our Shepherd

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1).

— Todd Alexander

One of the more beautiful pictures of the Gospel Age is found in David’s description of his relationship with God as one of God’s sheep. David details his total surrender to his Heavenly Father in this six‑verse description of how a good shepherd protects his sheep. By his example, he describes the right path for his Jewish brethren to surrender to God and find Him as their refuge and strength.

Psalm 22 details the final experiences of the “lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.” David’s words described, in prophetic detail, many of Jesus’ actual experiences during his final days and hours. Psalm 22 confirmed many events that Jesus could not control; he would find comfort in knowing that his Heavenly Father completed and accepted his sacrifice.

Jesus, as the lamb, endured the chastisements of Psalm 22 so that the Gospel Age church, the little flock, could enjoy the peace and tranquility described in Psalm 23. An article in the next issue of the Herald Magazine will provide further details on Psalms 22, 23, and 24. For now, we would like to consider how Psalm 23 is a picture of the little flock of sheep at rest during the distress of the Gospel Age.

Verse One

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Jesus guides the Gospel Age church as its shepherd, and it need not desire anything more than the shepherd provides (John 10:11, 27). Temporal desires are replaced by a spiritual longing for the shepherd who knows their every need and freely gives them the safety of peace (John 10:14, 28‑29).

Verse Two

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” The Gospel Age church enjoys spiritual prosperity and abundance, away from strife and worldly ambition. God promised His servants would eat and others would go hungry, His servants would drink, and others would be thirsty (Isaiah 65:13). The still waters of the truth are deep and refreshing to the sheep of the Gospel Age church; they provide a bed of comfort the worldly minded cannot comprehend. Through Jesus, God offers something of tremendous value for free. As our Good Shepherd, Jesus is God’s instrument who delivers the water of truth to all who thirst (Isaiah 55:1‑2).

Verse Three

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Justification through the lamb’s blood restores the Gospel Age church to a relationship with God and away from the condemnation of Adam’s sin. Once we believe in his precious blood of justification, Jesus outlines the narrow path of righteousness in his words and actions. He shows us the sanctification and honor that may be found in denying worldly ambition, taking up our cross of sacrifice, and following him in doing the work of our Heavenly Father (Matthew 16:24). This is the path of righteousness for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the Gospel Age ministry and the edification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12‑13).

Verse Four

“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.” Like Jesus, our difficult life experiences strengthen our spiritual resolve as we lean on the tools of our justification (faith and truth) and develop spiritual maturity. When we experience valleys, we feel vulnerable, as if below the mountaintops of God’s protection. However, the Apostle Peter gave us a living, powerful example in the testimony of his own life. He provides valuable insight into the fiery trials natural to our living sacrifice, which we have placed on the altar (1 Peter 4:12‑14). The shepherd’s rod corrects us while his staff keeps us from straying toward the world for assistance.

Verse Five

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Jesus feeds the Gospel Age church with spiritual food that is invisible to the worldly minded. Jesus strengthens our spiritual resolve by feeding us. He provides us with meat in due season to exercise our spiritual mind and thereby receive power in front of our enemies (Matthew 24:45). It is up to us to remain wise virgins, to keep our hearts full of the holy Spirit of consecration (Matthew 25:1‑13). Just as a shepherd puts oil on the face of a sheep to keep the pests from its ears and nose, we are anointed with the holy Spirit of consecration, which protects our spiritual senses of understanding and discernment from being damaged by the roaring of our adversary (1 Peter 5:8‑9). Our cup of joy and sorrow overflows with the meaning of living a life threatened by the sorrow of Satan but may be overcome with the joy of the power of prayer and the power of God.

Verse Six

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” David felt God’s lovingkindness pursue him even in times when he did not notice it in front of him (Psalms 36:7, 10, 40:11, 51:1). Just like David, moving forward in faith requires the Gospel Age church to look backward and see the goodness and mercy of God follow them and guide them forward through all of the highs and lows of their experiences. Their consecration is dwelling in the house of God, where they are to become the temple of the LORD, the dwelling place of God’s holy Spirit, forever (John 14:2, 23).

Psalm 23 describes an oasis for the Gospel Age church — a place of spiritual refreshment and of knowing and feeling God’s love, which the worldly‑minded cannot approach. Let us go forward in faith and claim God’s promises of feeding, safety, protection, and sustaining power for ourselves and our loved ones.