God Cares

KEY VERSE: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” —Psalm 23:1

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Psalm 23

THE sentiment of the Prophet David in this psalm is that Jehovah is his shepherd. Our Lord’s explanation of the matter is that the Great Shepherd’s son has been given full charge of the sheep. In John 10:2,3 we read, “He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” The meaning of “porter” is “gate warden” (Strong’s Concordance) and the thought seems to be that it is only the Heavenly Father who can bestow such an honor. The Apostle Paul expressed the matter thus: “No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.”—Heb. 5:4,5; John 6:44

Because the Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want. Those who are proper sheep will submit their wills to the will of the shepherd and trust wholly to his guidance. The Lord’s sheep appreciate the heavenly things more than the earthly, and their wants in this respect are more than supplied when they accept by faith the divine assurances. The Lord’s sheep expect to have trials and to be tested, but the shepherd provides restful experiences which result from divine favor. These periods of rest are spoken of elsewhere as “the peace of God which passeth all understanding.” (Phil. 4:7) All of the Lord’s sheep have found such green pastures of spiritual refreshment in study and private devotions.

The still waters are contrasted with the rushing torrent of the mountain slope. We are told by various expositors on the subject that sheep fear the swift currents because of the danger of being swept away and drowned, but they can drink of the still waters without fear. In applying this thought to us, we find that the Good Shepherd leads us away from temptation of worldly ambitions, greatness and power and all those things esteemed by men. Rather he leads us to spiritual truths which bring with them a restfulness and refreshment of soul obtainable from no other source. The streams of truth and grace are living, but comparatively quiet waters. As the Prophet David intimates, these streams cannot be found alone, but require the leading of the Spirit.

“He restoreth my soul.” The prophet here is not speaking of the restoration of the body or of physical health, but a restoration of being—that is our justification to life by the application of the merit of Christ. The whole human race was condemned to death in Adam, but the sheep of the Gospel Age are granted a complete restoration of being through faith in the shed blood of Christ. The Apostle Paul states: “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath [death] through him.” (Rom. 5:8,9) The whole world is walking in the valley of the shadow of death, except that a way of escape is provided for the footstep followers of Jesus during the Gospel Age. Is it any wonder that these can walk through the valley of death rejoicing and fearing no evil?

“His rod and his staff, they comfort me.” As the shepherd’s crook was used to assist the sheep out of difficulties, and to defend them from their enemies, and to chasten them when inattentive, so the true sheep learn to love the providences of the Great Shepherd and are comforted by them. A knowledge of the Lord’s providences and provisions for us is pictured in the bountiful table spread with divine truth. Our heads have been anointed with the Holy Spirit and our cup of joy and fulfillment “runneth” over.

Jesus, in John 10:16, broadens the scope of his shepherd-ship, stating, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” The thought of the text is that after the Gospel Age and after the footstep followers of Jesus have been dealt with, then Christ with his church will bless the world under the terms of the New Covenant. All of the willing and obedient will then become part of the one fold, with one Great Shepherd.

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