Psalm 23 is full of words of action. Describes a trip, not a freeze. Even when sheep lie on green pastures, it’s a temporary break for the tired. From this point in the psalm, the sheep move. The shepherd leads them to calm waters and through the valley of shadow of death; every day of their lives, he leads them on paths of justice, with the kindness and mercy that constantly accompany them.
I cannot read Psalm 23 without thinking of Luke 15, this chapter explains how God in Christ seeks and saves the lost. The most memorable part of the chapter is, of course, the story of the prodigal son, but this comes to the end of a long speech that begins with a much shorter parable, using the well-known pastoral imagery of Psalm 23. Here, a shepherd leaves his large flock outdoors to search for and save a lost solitary sheep. “on his shoulders, full of joy”(Lk 15:5)?and bring him home.
- Christ.
- Of course.
- Said that he himself was the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
- This was one of his most shocking public demands.
- Because it was very clearly a statement of his divinity.
- The only real one? He is and always has been the Lord.
- Throughout the Old Testament.
- Yahweh is repeatedly identified as the shepherd of his own people.
However, Jesus not only called himself “the good shepherd”, but also called all believers “my flock” (Jo 10:11). For Christ, to claim this role was to say that he is the Lord. The New Testament also calls him “The Great Shepherd?”And the supreme pastor? (He 13,20; 1 P 5. 4).
God’s work in salvation is complete
As Psalm 23 points out from beginning to end, the loving leadership of the great Shepherd is always focused, determined and full of kindness and mercy, he intends to deliver his sheep from evil, through the valley of shadow of death, and for safety and blessing. All of this is contained in the statement: “Guide me on the paths of justice by name. “
Sheep represent fallen creatures that alone could never successfully find or navigate the paths of justice. Why is the door narrow and the path that leads to closed life?(Mt 7:14). But where else could the great shepherd take us?”The Lord is right in all his ways. ” (Salt 145,17).
These facts highlight a truth that we often insist on, namely, God’s sovereignty in the salvation of sinners: the divine shepherd seeks out and saves the lost. He is not just the restorer of their souls; He is also the one who guards them, cares for them, keeps them in faith, brings them back when they stray and leads them along the paths of justice. God’s work in salvation is complete. to be proud.
Many scriptures emphasize this fact. Romans 8. 29-30 traces the salvation of the chosen of their predestination in eternity spent on their glorification in future eternity, and God is the one who accomplishes all this. Ephesians 2. 8-9 reminds us that our redemption from sin is not our work: “It is a gift from God. so that no one can brag?.
And our pride?(Romans 3. 27). Are all aspects of our salvation fulfilled by divine grace?So much so that even the good things we do as redeemed people are works that God has prepared beforehand to walk in them (Ephesians 2. 10). Thus, the Great Shepherd leads us sovereignly on the paths of justice.
However, although the scriptures place great emphasis on God’s absolute sovereignty in the work of salvation, they never exclude or underestimate human responsibility. The guiding shepherd, but the sheep are not passive, they follow you, as is your duty. Sometimes they may stumble or wander, but they know the true shepherd and are known to him, so they never stray completely from him. In the words of Jesus: “My sheep hear my voice; Do I know them and follow me?( Jn 10. 27) . His own fair walk is one of the main proofs of his membership in the Good Shepherd. They are not saved by their righteous walk, but their righteous march proves that God saved them.
And here is the definitive proof that your faith in the Great Shepherd is authentic: persevere, those who leave the ways of justice and never return have never belonged to the shepherd.
However, because God is sovereign, his sheep are safe; they persevere in the ways of justice. Furthermore, the pastor himself said: “I give them eternal life; they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. Father has given me greater than anything, and no one can snatch out of the Father’s hand? (Jn 10 , 28-29).