God is Our Shepherd

God revealed Himself in Scripture as a Shepherd!

Genesis 48:15–16 “And he blessed Joseph and said, ‘The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys…’”

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

In this text, we find the characteristics of God’s shepherding: God’s commitment, God’s peace, God’s strengthening, God’s protection, God’s providence…

Psalm 77:20 “You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
All the actions described in the previous verses show how Asaph sought the guidance of God, was strengthened in it, and persuaded himself of it.

Psalm 80:1 “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.”

Psalm 78:52–54 “Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won.”

Notice God’s sovereign, gracious initiative in leading His people; His omnipotence and care, which provided safety on the way and protection from enemies; and then, His faithfulness, omniscience, and zeal manifested in the accomplishment of the goal—He Himself brought them to Himself.

Exodus 19:4 “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”

Psalm 95:6–7 “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

God’s revelation of Himself as the Shepherd of His people is not merely a metaphor, but a real, holistic, and continual redemptive care for them.

Isaiah 40:10–11 “Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

Isaiah 40:12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?”

“This is one important distinction between the metaphor of father and that of shepherd. Children grow up and become less dependent on their earthly fathers, though the relationship continues. Sheep, on the other hand, are always completely dependent on their shepherd. They never outgrow their need for the shepherd to care for them, feed them, lead them, and protect them.” (Timothy Witmer, The Shepherd Leader, p. 13)

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine:

A request from elders: Dear Church, if you are sick or know of someone who is sick and cannot attend services and be in fellowship with other believers, please let us know so we can visit them.

Psalm 23