"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness, for His name's sake..."1
David was a good shepherd, killing a bear and a lion that had entered the fold, taking the sheep. Thus this Psalm speaks of one who cares for His sheep, and we see very important concepts in this amazing Psalm pointing to Christ and to the ministry of the new covenant, of righteousness. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who loves his sheep so much he laid down his life. Oh that others would lay down their lives for His sheep. So we see agape love is a telling sign of a good shepherd, but what else do we see? He teaches them to trust, he makes them to lie down and leads them into rest, he restores, and guides his sheep in the paths of righteousness, for His name's sake.
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."2
To rest the sheep, a shepherd, makes use of the natural terrain, building a fold around the sheep then he lies as the door to the fold. Jesus said, only a thief doesn't enter by the door. "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber."3 A good shepherd the sheep trust, they know His voice, unlike a hireling who cares not for the sheep, a hireling the sheep would not follow. Thus without such trust, how does a hireling lead the sheep? We see characteristics of a good shepherd in this Psalm and also in Peter's writings, thus would not the the opposite of good shepherd be the characteristics of a hireling? to the hireling trust is not important nor leading into rest, nor guiding into righteousness for His name sake, as it is for personal gain. The hireling would "lord' over the sheep, controlling, domineering, demanding and enforcing obedience. But lets not focus on the hireling but on the good shepherd.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."4
Putting first His kingdom includes seeking first his righteousness. We see that when we trust in Him, these things will be added to you. What does it mean to seek first His righteousness? well, it begins with receiving the free gift of righteousness by faith in Christ. It is according to grace, that we do not boast in our own works but in Him, that we glorify His name, such puts Him first, "For His name's sake." Knowing such righteousness is in Him determines our focus, to glorify Him, such is the end, now, comes the means to the end. "He guides me in the paths of righteousness." The Good Shepherd guides them into righteousness. Do we see how He guides them unto righteousness?
"... the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."3
What is the fruit you get that leads to Life? it comes from the gift or seed of righteousness. This fruit of righteousness leads to sanctification, which end is Life. So we see the importance of righteousness and its fruit, as it leads unto sanctification. Thus it is developed like a seed or measure of faith, until it is fully grown or convincing. Is it not very important to develop this seed of righteousness so that it bears fruit? it is the same as building up others in faith. How does He guide into righteousness? The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, "And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."4 He guides into righteousness, on the sandals of peace, establishing trust and rest.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul..."
Jesus said the children of God are peace makers. Establishing peace is not an easy thing, and must be done with forbearance, peace, and gentleness of Spirit, it is clearly laying down your life. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, the gospel being prepared in peace, not a ministry of condemnation but unto salvation, a message of reconciliation and peace, "the ministry of righteousness, rest and trust forever."6 So we see He guides them unto righteousness. How? trust and rest. By establishing his great love for them, the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep, He establishes trust, they shall not lack of anything. He teaches them to enter His rest; making them to lie down, to rest, in green pastures, leading them beside still waters.
Still
David was a good shepherd, killing a bear and a lion that had entered the fold, taking the sheep. Thus this Psalm speaks of one who cares for His sheep, and we see very important concepts in this amazing Psalm pointing to Christ and to the ministry of the new covenant, of righteousness. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who loves his sheep so much he laid down his life. Oh that others would lay down their lives for His sheep. So we see agape love is a telling sign of a good shepherd, but what else do we see? He teaches them to trust, he makes them to lie down and leads them into rest, he restores, and guides his sheep in the paths of righteousness, for His name's sake.
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."2
To rest the sheep, a shepherd, makes use of the natural terrain, building a fold around the sheep then he lies as the door to the fold. Jesus said, only a thief doesn't enter by the door. "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber."3 A good shepherd the sheep trust, they know His voice, unlike a hireling who cares not for the sheep, a hireling the sheep would not follow. Thus without such trust, how does a hireling lead the sheep? We see characteristics of a good shepherd in this Psalm and also in Peter's writings, thus would not the the opposite of good shepherd be the characteristics of a hireling? to the hireling trust is not important nor leading into rest, nor guiding into righteousness for His name sake, as it is for personal gain. The hireling would "lord' over the sheep, controlling, domineering, demanding and enforcing obedience. But lets not focus on the hireling but on the good shepherd.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."4
Putting first His kingdom includes seeking first his righteousness. We see that when we trust in Him, these things will be added to you. What does it mean to seek first His righteousness? well, it begins with receiving the free gift of righteousness by faith in Christ. It is according to grace, that we do not boast in our own works but in Him, that we glorify His name, such puts Him first, "For His name's sake." Knowing such righteousness is in Him determines our focus, to glorify Him, such is the end, now, comes the means to the end. "He guides me in the paths of righteousness." The Good Shepherd guides them into righteousness. Do we see how He guides them unto righteousness?
"... the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."3
What is the fruit you get that leads to Life? it comes from the gift or seed of righteousness. This fruit of righteousness leads to sanctification, which end is Life. So we see the importance of righteousness and its fruit, as it leads unto sanctification. Thus it is developed like a seed or measure of faith, until it is fully grown or convincing. Is it not very important to develop this seed of righteousness so that it bears fruit? it is the same as building up others in faith. How does He guide into righteousness? The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, "And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."4 He guides into righteousness, on the sandals of peace, establishing trust and rest.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul..."
Jesus said the children of God are peace makers. Establishing peace is not an easy thing, and must be done with forbearance, peace, and gentleness of Spirit, it is clearly laying down your life. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, the gospel being prepared in peace, not a ministry of condemnation but unto salvation, a message of reconciliation and peace, "the ministry of righteousness, rest and trust forever."6 So we see He guides them unto righteousness. How? trust and rest. By establishing his great love for them, the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep, He establishes trust, they shall not lack of anything. He teaches them to enter His rest; making them to lie down, to rest, in green pastures, leading them beside still waters.
Still