I was pondering Psalm 23. Everyone knows it. The Lord is my shepherd. It makes me think of Sunday school, with little white fluffy sheep lying in grass that is unnaturally green and plush, a brook of tropical clear water flowing by. The Lord has painted a different picture for me lately.
When you see the pictures of the little lamb snuggled into the shepherd’s neck, what comes to mind? Cute, right? Maybe the lamb won the sheep fold lottery and goes on a ride along instead of walking that day?
When a lamb loses his way, the shepherd goes out on the search, and brings him back into the fold. If that same lamb ventures off again, and again, he has to be taught a lesson. The shepherd would break the legs of the little lamb, bandage it back up, and lay it on his shoulders. Harsh? The poster isn’t looking so cute now.
The Lord is our shepherd. He lays us in green pastures and still waters. He is the perfect, Good Shepherd. He wants what is best for us. We stupid sheep wander from the shepherd, free for the ravaging of wolves and prey. He loves us too much to let us get lost in the wilderness. This Shepherd loves us! He owns us. He is invested in us through the price of the blood of the Lamb that was slain!
What was the purpose of this harsh discipline to the lamb? Seems a little extreme! The lamb would learn to be completely, utterly dependant on the Shepherd. They would breathe in his air and walk where he walked. Most important, though, the lamb would learn his voice. It would learn to recognize his voice, the nature of the tones, the implied inflections. The lamb learns to tune into the Master.
The Good Shepherd carries both a staff… and a rod. He leads, and guides, nurtures and protects. He also corrects, disciplines and exhorts. When the Lord breaks us, he bandages our wounds, lays us on his shoulders, close to his heartbeat, and carries us until we can learn to depend solely on Him. We learn to constantly abide with Him, drinking in His character, His voice, His breath. We follow the Lord, we know His voice, and He knows our names!
When we feel broken by the Lord, He lifts us up, carries us through, and restores our souls. This is a sweet time with the Lord. Soak up the undivided attention of our Master, our Leader, and our Savior! Learn the lesson of abiding, tune your ears to the voice of your Creator. Then, when you are fully restored, He sets us down on solid ground, ready for His work once again.
Come, let us return to the Lord ; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; (Hosea 6:1, 3)
(Ps. 95:6-8, Hosea 6:1, 3, John 10: 11-16, 27, Psalm 23)
When you see the pictures of the little lamb snuggled into the shepherd’s neck, what comes to mind? Cute, right? Maybe the lamb won the sheep fold lottery and goes on a ride along instead of walking that day?
When a lamb loses his way, the shepherd goes out on the search, and brings him back into the fold. If that same lamb ventures off again, and again, he has to be taught a lesson. The shepherd would break the legs of the little lamb, bandage it back up, and lay it on his shoulders. Harsh? The poster isn’t looking so cute now.
The Lord is our shepherd. He lays us in green pastures and still waters. He is the perfect, Good Shepherd. He wants what is best for us. We stupid sheep wander from the shepherd, free for the ravaging of wolves and prey. He loves us too much to let us get lost in the wilderness. This Shepherd loves us! He owns us. He is invested in us through the price of the blood of the Lamb that was slain!
What was the purpose of this harsh discipline to the lamb? Seems a little extreme! The lamb would learn to be completely, utterly dependant on the Shepherd. They would breathe in his air and walk where he walked. Most important, though, the lamb would learn his voice. It would learn to recognize his voice, the nature of the tones, the implied inflections. The lamb learns to tune into the Master.
The Good Shepherd carries both a staff… and a rod. He leads, and guides, nurtures and protects. He also corrects, disciplines and exhorts. When the Lord breaks us, he bandages our wounds, lays us on his shoulders, close to his heartbeat, and carries us until we can learn to depend solely on Him. We learn to constantly abide with Him, drinking in His character, His voice, His breath. We follow the Lord, we know His voice, and He knows our names!
When we feel broken by the Lord, He lifts us up, carries us through, and restores our souls. This is a sweet time with the Lord. Soak up the undivided attention of our Master, our Leader, and our Savior! Learn the lesson of abiding, tune your ears to the voice of your Creator. Then, when you are fully restored, He sets us down on solid ground, ready for His work once again.
Come, let us return to the Lord ; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; (Hosea 6:1, 3)
(Ps. 95:6-8, Hosea 6:1, 3, John 10: 11-16, 27, Psalm 23)
Sweetly Broken
