WHO IS YOUR SHEPHERD?

₦Sermon 33
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WHO IS YOUR SHEPHERD?
      A sermon delivered during Mr.Hycent Chikodi’s Child Dedication — Miss Kindness Hycent

“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want” – Psalm23:1 KJV.
     
Text: Psalm 23:1-6
_Every individual needs to know who his shepherd is. But if we fail to know the right shepherd of the man’s soul, we shall starve our souls to death. When David was wandering in a boondocks popularly called deserts the one particularly associated with the herdsmen and shepherds of Nabal tending his sheep, he became hungry and it happened that it was when a man called Nabal a descendant of Caleb who dwelt in Maon (1 Samuel 25) held his annual sheep-shearing, David sent his servants to beg Nabal for his own share.  Disappointingly, David was gravely treated regardless of his countless effort and services to guard Nabal’s sheep in the wilderness.
       
David identifies God as his great shepherd who safeguards and protects him always and this perhaps was basically what inspired him to write the 23rd Psalm to comfort individuals whose souls are spiritually famished, who might not really know how God shepherds his children. In the same way, I would like to boost you with the sermon of David to revive your soul so that you’ll remain faithful and know that God and no one else is our great shepherd.
 
A shepherd is someone that tends sheep. He cares for his sheep and is willing to safeguard them when there’s danger. He does not allow his sheep to get hungry. In fact, he devotes his precious time and energy in keeping them away from dangers. When there’s a harsh and severe sun, he relocates his sheep to a very imperturbable area. When he has fed them enough, he takes them to a quiet stream where they may not get drowned. If in the course of shepherding them, perhaps, one among them gets lost, he’ll encage the others and look for the lost one. Thus, he does not want to lose any of his sheep because each of them is very precious to him. This great shepherd derives joy from his sheep when he sees them in group heading to the right path. His sheep hear his voice when he calls and they follow him. He’s very attentive to his sheep. He knows the kind of groaning sound which his sheep would make and he’ll know that they are in danger and he’ll run with his staff always in his hand for their rescue. In fact this kind of shepherd is a good shepherd. And who is the good shepherd? Obviously, he is Jesus Christ the great shepherd.  When we make God our shepherd –

We will lack nothing: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you – Matt. 6:33. For a sheep to be cared for, he must be innocent, humble and gentle when he hears the voice of his master. Jesus says: My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. The sheep of the shepherd are always obedient to follow their master to anywhere the master is taking them to. They can never be afraid or be in want of food because their shepherd knows the best and he’s able to provide pasture or food to them anytime they feel to eat. You will not be in want of shelter when there is sun or rain. You will not be in want of cloth when there is cold. Thus everything you need in life is provided to you by the great shepherd.

He will make us lie down in green pasture: the good shepherd of ours knows the meadow land that is full of milk and honey where he takes his sheep for feeding. He does not take his sheep to a withered land. He ensures that he finds the pastured land and when he eventually sees it, he makes us to lie on it and eat. Also, when we might have eaten to our fill, he now takes us to a still water to drink. The still water is untroublesome water where the sheep will go to drink and get reinvigorated or refreshed without being drowned to death. A tempest and wind storm can never be experienced there because our master is always in control

He will restore our souls: He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake — Psalm 23:3. The duty of a good shepherd is numerous and very critical. The shepherd has a lot to do in caring his sheep. At times, sheep may get lost, the shepherd will now be searching for it and when he sees it he takes it back to his flock of sheep. We human beings sin against God but he cleans our sins and leads us to the path of righteousness. David penitentially wrote this Psalm to recall how God forgave him. He really sinned against God by taking Uriah’s wife Bathsheba and followed by the martyrdom of Uriah and yet God the great shepherd forgave him and restored his perishing soul and led him to the righteous way to follow (see Psalm 51). Think, do you walk to the righteous way or wickedness?  There’re so many souls today that are perishing because they don’t recognize Jesus Christ as their Great Shepherd.  The rich man in the bible was called a fool in Luke 12:20, explicitly because he does not recognize God as his great shepherd in life. He presumably thinks that all his acquired riches are done by his hominidae or human effort and God says: You fool! You’ll die this very night”.

As we have the good shepherd, we shall fear no evil because he’s always around us with his rod and staff from which we derive our source of comfort. Even if we fall into a pit or walk into the shadow of death, he’ll come to rescue us. Therefore, brethren, as we have Christ as our great shepherd, let us always obey his instructions and do what pleases him. As we adhere to his commandments, he’ll provide more food and shelter for us and we’ll have more courage to worship him daily. Even if we feel like living without food, his grace is sufficient to us. May God bless you!


——————Meditation Point———————
LORD, shepherd me as sheep, comfort me with your staff and feed me with the bread of heaven till I want no more!