Understanding the biblical pictures of God as our Shepherd has always been of interest to me - and no, it's not because I happen to have a sheepdog. In our typical British understanding of a shepherd, it looks as if the man has more relationship with his dog than with his sheep. (And that makes a lot of sense if you have the privilege of working in partnership every day with an intelligent border collie?!)
But I've also lived in other parts of the world - in Africa and in southern Spain - where the style of shepherding is probably more similar to the Middle Eastern model that David wrote of in Psalm 23 or that Jesus had in mind when He said the things we read in John 10. I've seen the Shepherd walking in front of his sheep all day, leading them across the hillside to where they'll find fresh pasture or water to drink. And so there have been several times in my life when I've done an in-depth study of Psalm 23 and considered all that it means to know the Lord as our Shepherd - Yahweh Rā'â.
Those six short verses of Psalm 23 are so rich, you could meditate on them for a whole week. They promise care and provision (vs 1), rest and refreshing (vs 2), restoration and guidance (vs 3), protection and comfort (vs 4), security, victory over enemies, healing and anointing, abundance (vs 5), goodness and mercy, and a safe home in God's presence forever (vs 6). Wow! What a list of blessings if we know the Lord as our Shepherd.
It's obvious that David drew on his own experiences as a shepherd boy when he was writing the psalm. Another shepherd, Canadian agriculturalist, Phillip Keller, was born to missionary parents in Kenya. His book, "A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23," gives all kinds of fascinating insights, drawn from his own experiences of tending sheep. It's worth a read if you've not encountered it before. I remember reading it more than 30 years ago.
Shepherds were a familiar sight in Bible times. When we get to the New Testament, we find Jesus not only describing Himself as a shepherd, but saying that He is the Good Shepherd - the One who is willing to give His life for the sheep. (John 10: 11 and 15) He promises that His sheep will hear His voice. (John 10: 3 - 4) He tells a parable about a shepherd going searching for a sheep that has wandered off and got itself lost. (Luke 15) and compares that to the joy in heaven when a sinner repents.
The Bible shows us God as a Father, as a Friend, as a King, as a Saviour... but perhaps there are few pictures more tender than that of the Shepherd finding the sheep that was lost and then gently caring for all it's needs.
