MASTER SHEPHERD

  : "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."  Psalm twenty three is familiar to the Christian and the unbeliever, especially  in times of stress and loss of loved ones.  If people know only one Psalm, this is it. It is such a caring, trusting statement of David  the shepherd and King.  Early in David's life, his focus was upon the sheep, later he would call upon God in much more difficult circumstances.  He was being grounded and secured in trust of God's presence, peace, power and love.  He poured out his heart in songs of praise and love for His provision, protection and Holiness. We have many Psalms composed by David.  Perhaps this Psalm is David looking back over the ways that God shepherded him throughout his life's journey from shepherd boy to King.   This Psalm can show us some things to be learned from our Master Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

     First we must see who the Shepherd is.  That He alone is able to meet our every need, and to teach us to walk in the paths He has chosen for us.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit designed, created and sustain all things.  God alone knows when it shall all end.  Wise are those who believe.

     I like to think that before God spoke the worlds into existence, that there was a lot of designing going on.  The numbers, names and placing of stars in countless galaxies before they were tossed into space. The earth, chosen out of  all galaxies to become His dwelling place beyond Heaven.  It was null and void, covered with waters and darkness.  He began with light that conquered the darkness.  Then the waters were pushed into mighty oceans and seas, their power held back by continental shores.  Rushing rivers, quiet lakes, tumbling streams, still ponds and underground springs to quench the thirst of all living things.  In the waters he created countless instinctive creatures that keep a balance of the species in tact.  Monstrous whaleour leaping dolphins, frightful sharks, traveling salman, delicate beings aglow with the colors of heavens jewels, and all varieties of sea life in between.  And who but God would put a rainbow on a fish?

     The sun by day, moon and stars at night, hours, days, months,never changing seasons and years were established.  The rains, snow, thunder, lightening, winds, tornadoes, hurricanes and famines to remind us of who is in control.  Vast rolling plains, grand snow covered mountains reaching for the skies, with underground treasures of gold, silver,precious gems from Heavens store, and fuels waiting to be found by curious minds and willing hands.

     The ground was commanded to bring forth forrests of trees.  Giant sequoias, oaks, maple, evergreens and dogwood, to name a few, each with it's own seed to reproduce.  An apple tree still gives apples, an oak grows from the acorn.  Beautiful flowers in every color still delight us.  The rose smells as sweet as when He made it.

     I think they had fun making the animals and birds.  Long necked giraffs, long nosed elephants, speedy jaguars, slow turtles, soaring eagles and tiny humming birds, all with amazing survival instincts.  And who can forget the mighty dinosaur?   I think they laughed as they put the sounds in the animals.  Purrs in a kitten, barks in a puppy, roars in a lion, buzzing bees, singing birds, mooing cows.and so many more that parents delight in teaching the children.   We still wonder at many of them and some remain a puzzle.  Who can explain the balance of nature and how each fits with another?    Those who doubht God's creation of all things should read chapters 38 and 39 of Job.  The wonders of all that God made will never be exhausted.

     According to the plan before creation began, they made man to dwell on the new earth and care for it.  Made in God's image, filled with God's breath, eternal with an enormous capacity and longing for Him, man arrived.  God made us so that whether we choose a science, literature, astrology, arts, or music to study our whole life, we cannot exhaust the knowledge of it.  Centuries have passed since creation and we still discover new mysteries.  Nothing man does can surprise or amaze Him.  He alone is Master of it all and holds it together by His power.  Only God can fill the longing of our hearts.

     God gave us free will.  We make our own choices, but must bear the consequences.  David experienced great family and national turmoil after his sin with Bathsheba.  God forgave him, but he lived the consequence.  Those who believe there is no God, that man evolved by some accident, are the ones who who take advantage of others for their own gain, brutally molest the children, rob and murder without thought of right or wrong.  Fame, pleasure, wealth and drugs are their gods, but their end will be despair and eternal seperation from God.   Satin is the great Deceiver!

     GOD IS LOVE!  It is not only what He is, it is also what He does.   God made us, knowing that we would sin against Him.  Also knowing that He would send His Son for the sacrifice for sin to bring us back to Himself.   This is the Creator-redeemer who comes among us as our Shepherd.   Hear what he says of Himself,  " I am the good shepherd.  I am with you always, even to the end of the world!"

       Isaiah 53:6  " We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

     If we are like sheep, then let's look at some sheep acting like people.  Young ones, old ones, proud and willfull ones, caring and faithful ones are there, too.  What does the Shepherd say to them as they face life's challenges?  Let's look at a few of these "SHEEPLE" up close and personal.