He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1-4
Reflect
Psalm 23 is not the only well-known passage in the Bible where God is compared to a shepherd. During a confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus says that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. He also calls himself the “gate” or the “door” through which people can enter and be saved. Today, we’ll look at John 10:1–13 and consider the light they shine on Psalm 23.
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:1–10
During some seasons, the shepherds in the ancient near east would leave their towns and stay out in the pastures with their sheep while they grazed. In order to keep the sheep safe during the night, shepherds would sometimes build make-shift pens out of brush or rocks and they would sleep across the opening – guarding the sheep from predators and thieves and also keeping the sheep from answering their own foolish urge to wander. The shepherd became the gate for the sheep. In Jesus’ analogy, the true shepherd is the only one who has the sheep’s best interest at heart. Once they accept him as their shepherd, his is the only voice they will obey.
Those who recognize Jesus as their shepherd will not only enjoy green pastures and still waters, but also move through the dark canyons secure in the knowledge that their Shepherd is with them. When they follow his voice, they know that wherever he leads them, they can experience his goodness. They will not just survive, they will have an abundant life!
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:11–13
Not only will the Shepherd guide and protect his sheep, he would lay his life down for them. The Pharisees, whom Jesus is confronting in this passage, considered themselves the leaders of Israel, but they weren’t prepared to sacrifice themselves for the people. That’s not the kind of rulers they were, nor was it what they expected from God’s Messiah. They were looking for a Messiah who would come, defeat the Romans, and then make them his deputies to rule over everyone else. They did not expect the Messiah to die.
By using the familiar analogy of a Shepherd and his sheep, Jesus explains what the ruler of God’s Kingdom is like. A ruler who loves his people, and not just the power of ruling will sacrifice for their good. That’s a ruler you will follow. Of course, Jesus is that ruler. He is the Messiah, the world’s Savior and King. And his sheep listen to his voice.
Think about it. It’s with his voice that God created. He said, “let there be light” and there was light. It’s Yahweh’s voice that boomed like thunder from Mount Sinai when the law was given. Jesus’ voice commanded the storm to “be still,” and gently whispered “Talitha Kum”(“Little girl, come”) when he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Our Shepherd’s voice beckoned the little children to come to him and called Lazarus from the grave. From the cross, Jesus’ voice called out in anguish, “my God why have you forsaken me” as he bore the penalty for our sins. That’s the voice that we must listen to and follow.
When Jesus calls you to obey, you respond because you know that he will take care of you. You can follow his voice even as you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, because he is with you. Often it’s in the midst of suffering that his voice becomes the clearest. It’s certainly the time when it’s the sweetest. You follow wherever he leads because you know that when you walk with Jesus, he’s leading you to abundant life.
Are you listening to his voice and following it? There are a lot of voices that call to us, from our culture, from the Enemy, and from our own selfish hearts. But the Shepherd’s voice calls you to abundant life and you can hear it by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s everywhere in his Word – in the commands, the stories, the poetry, and the letters. It’s in Jesus’ words in the Gospels and the example he sets for us. When you are attentive to his presence, you can sense his invitation in the world around you – in your circumstances and relationships. It’s the call to love and worship God freely, love selflessly, and seek the good of others.
Jesus asks us to follow him along the right paths, even when they take us through dark and rocky terrain, and to find a rest that is only available to us in his presence. We can have peace and joy in our souls when we follow the Shepherd’s voice.
How can you attend to your shepherd’s voice? Is there something you’re doing or not doing that you know is against his will? Start there. Ask for forgiveness, repent, and turn to Jesus. He wants to lead you on the right paths.
Pray
What is your biggest need today? Ask for the Shepherd’s provision and guidance. Invite him to speak to you through his Word and reveal himself through your circumstances. Ask the Spirit to teach you how to hear his voice ever more clearly.