Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25
One of the ways that God uses to show us his tender love and care for us is to describe us as his sheep and him as our shepherd. It’s a cool way to picture it. Shepherds spend their days and their nights caring for their sheep. They make sure they are well fed, have the shelter they need and are safe from threats. When a sheep wanders, the shepherd goes after it.
Psalm 23 paints a picture of this to show how much God loves those of us that have put our faith in him. Explaining just how much we each mean to him, individually, just like every little sheep in the shepherds flock has value to the shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads be beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
And Jesus provided another analogy of how his love and care for us is like that of a good shepherd.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd…I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me…They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” John 10:11-16
If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior – we have a Shepherd that is not only completely capable of taking care of all of our needs but also lovingly willing to sacrifice his life for us. And if we follow him, he will lead us through the green meadows and the darkest valleys until he ultimately leads us home to be with him for eternity.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with her young. Isaiah 40:11
O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff; lead your flock, your special possession. Micah 7:14
On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people, just as a shepherd rescues his sheep. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. Zechariah 9:16
For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17