FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD

Psalms 23:1 NLT
[1] “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”

Now here’s a great stone to help build our foundation.

The Hebrew word, “Chaser”, in
Strong’s concordance, (h2637)
“- Definition: to lack, need, be lacking, decrease.

• Origin: A primitive root; to lack; by implication, to fail, want, lessen.
• Usage: be abated, bereave, decrease, (cause to) fail, (have) lack, make lower, want.”

There’s a connotation in this word that is not conveyed in most translations – the idea of being in want, not in a material sense but in who I am.

The Good Shepherd’s role is not only to care and provide for the sheep, but also to help His sheep to be who they really are. They belong to Him. They are His sheep. They are special to Him. He knows them. He watches over them with tender care because He loves them.

Any “sheep” who is treated in this way will be reassured that the Shepherd will never do anything or allow anything that will diminish His sheep in any way. Such loving care must give the sheep the confidence that he is loved and treasured for who he is. It does not matter how the world treats him because he has confidence in the Shepherd’s unfailing love .

How we need this reassurance, this confidence in the unchanging attitude of our Shepherd towards us in a world that is increasingly hostile towards righteousness and truth. In the security of our Shepherd’s love, we can face anything that comes against us without fear. Our Shepherd is beside us with His rod and staff to guide us through the dark valley of hatred and rejection to the table land of His provision, favour, and blessing.

We need to build this stone securely into the foundation of the way we think and act. Its presence under our feet, the reassurance it provides for us, will be a buffer against what people may say or do to diminish us. Like Jesus, we will learn not to retaliate but to entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly.