If you haven't yet watch this week's video here In a comment at the bottom of the page, answer some or all of the questions below: (Some of this content is taken from the study guide. For more in-depth personal study download the study guide here: STUDY GUIDE ) Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Many times, we think about God in awe-inspiring terms (which we should). He is creator, sovereign, Lord, and so on. But as Matt pointed out, “shepherd” does not inspire awe so much as nearness and care. It communicates a level of intimacy that God has with his people. How does the idea of God as your shepherd add to your understanding of who God is? What implications does this aspect of God’s relationship with us have on our lives? John 10:7-11 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. One of the characteristics Matt pointed out is that the sheep that belong to Jesus hear his voice and follow wherever he leads. But Jesus is not the only voice we hear in our world today. There are many different things vying for our attention. Matt specifically mentioned three examples: our personal desires, culture, and relationships. What are some of the things you tend to look to as a shepherd other than Jesus? How do these things rob joy and life from you and leave you wanting? How are the struggles associated with this current pandemic revealing some of the false shepherds you look to? How is Jesus the only good Shepherd who can give life and cause us to say “I shall not want”? How ought the reality behind the phrase “I shall not want” transform our lives and relationships? How does it affect the way we face the current difficulty our world is in?
25 Comments
Renee Stebbeds
3/24/2020 10:46:02 am
In thinking of the Lord as my shepherd I see Him in my minds eye laying across the entrance to the sheep pen so as to protect from any predator coming in or sheep going out. I understand as the shepherd his willingness to do whatever it takes to protect his sheep even if it means breaking one of their legs because they continually stray but then carrying them on his shoulders until they heal...spending so much time with the shepherd that they respond to no other voice....
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Eric Rossmn
3/24/2020 06:04:34 pm
"Sadly, though, it seems that the voice I listen to that steals my joy the most is my own"
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Renee Stebbeds
3/24/2020 06:25:09 pm
Thank you Eric.
Richard
3/25/2020 05:02:27 pm
"where if all else fails, and it will, He still remains."
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Toni Muller
3/28/2020 08:43:56 pm
This is beautiful and true, Renée. I particularly like how you point out that what seems like something bad (breaking a leg) is actually for the good of the sheep. We definitely need God's perspective and not our own. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your heart with us.
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Joyce Lanz
3/24/2020 02:39:03 pm
Jesus is the only Shepherd I can trust because he knows I need rest in a cool, calm and refreshing place. He is the only one I can put my hope and trust in that he will lead me literally toward "water of stillness" whose quiet flow calms me as opposed to the boisterous streams on the one hand and offensive and stagnant pools that we face every night as I turn on the Television to hear about the most darkest and trying time the whole world is facing in our lives . The other Shepherds do not provide me with this rest and calm because they have not taken a pledge as Jesus the good Shepherd has pledged in these words "For His Name Sake" Jesus the good shepherd because of His name and regard for His perfections pledged for His people will never ever let me down while other shepherds and leaders will fail most certainly.
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Eric Rossman
3/25/2020 02:44:14 pm
Thanks for your response Joyce! Hope you are doing well. I would also add to what you said that the false shepherds do not provide for us because they are powerless to do so. I like that you shared of Jesus the good Shepherd leading us to water. It is incredible to think that Jesus actually represents both things in the picture. He is the Shepherd and he is the water. He leads and protects, as well as gives life and refreshment.
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3/24/2020 04:54:06 pm
Question1a: Anything that would get my eyes off Him and on other things. There is a difference between things that distract me from Him and things that are my responsibilities that must be seen to and completed. When I do get my eyes off Him I have this promise. "Let us [me] therefore, as many as be perfect [Strong's 5046; complete; Colossians 2:10], be thus minded; and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal [Strong's 601, Spoken of things revealed by God, i.e. taught, communicated , made known, by His Spirit and influences] God shall reveal even this unto you." Philippians 3:15. If not in Christ, not a new creation, haven't come to believe the gospel [1 Corinthians 15:1-4 for this "dispensation of the grace of God " Ephesians 3:2] they will not have the ability that is only in Christ. 2 Peter 2 may apply to this question and answer, you decide.
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Stephanie Bolme
3/25/2020 07:12:47 am
I’ve been a shepherd, albeit not in the Middle East sense - although sometimes during kidding season it sure felt like I was living with my goats. :D I was responsible for making sure my goats had enough food and water. I was responsible for making sure they were safe. When there was a problem, I was responsible for finding a solution. Their job was to rest in my care.
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Renee Stebbeds
3/25/2020 09:38:28 am
Stephanie,
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Eric Rossman
3/25/2020 02:38:58 pm
What a great example to share Stephanie. Also, glad you are feeling better! We are leaning towards thinking our kids just had the flu as well, Kari and I still haven't gotten whatever they had.
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Richard
3/25/2020 04:57:13 pm
"It's the Lord's job to take care of me. It's my job to rest in His care."
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Toni Muller
3/28/2020 08:55:13 pm
Thank you for sharing your experience with your goats. It gave an additional understanding to me. Thankful to hear that you are on the mend!
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Jessie Litchfield
3/25/2020 07:54:56 am
Looking at this verse made me realize I used to think the “Lord is my shepherd” was a choice I was making and “I shall not want,” was a directive I was going to will myself into following. So when I was looking at my “shepherds” this week I kept seeing my trust in my own capabilities.
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Eric Rossman
3/25/2020 02:35:32 pm
"The implications of Jesus as our shepherd gave me such compassion this week for those who do not know this shepherd, for those overwhelmed by fear. I also felt tearful joy at watching God’s provision unfold in my life and the lives of other believers (physically/emotionally and spiritually). "
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Richard
3/25/2020 04:55:23 pm
I love the lines from that song, Jessie! Thanks for sharing.
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3/26/2020 11:30:08 am
1. Steve made the point that Jesus is the Good Shepherd- there are bad shepherds who can lead astray and not care well for the sheep, but our Savior always leads us perfectly. For me, the idea of the Shepherd makes me think of attention to detail. God as Creator points to the enormity of the universe, His power, His creativity, His greatness. But as I think of Him as my Shepherd, I am reminded that He is the God of every detail in my life, who has numbered the hairs on my head and cares about every aspect of it.
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Richard
3/28/2020 09:57:12 am
"I am reminded that He is the God of every detail of my life...and cares about every aspect of it."
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Jared and Holly Falk
3/27/2020 09:02:19 pm
When I think of "I shall not want" I am not sure you are not supposed to actually not want things. I think that where Jesus leads you is like when a shepherd leads sheep to a good pasture, those sheep should not want to be in a different pasture. The sheep can want different things to graze on than other sheep, but those sheep must be satisfied with the pasture that the shepherd leads them to. We are where we are because, as followers of Christ, God has us where He wants us. And He is sanctifying us through our suffering and through our trials and though we may want to have a different circumstance, we also know who our Shepherd is and commit to following Him regardless.
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Eric Rossman
3/27/2020 09:38:44 pm
Hey guys, I think you give some good insight into the phrase "I shall not want". I view it as meaning that when the Lord is our shepherd we shall not be ruled by want. So often our lives can be ruled by the want of things. Our wants for things other then God end up dictating our actions, the way we spend our time, energy, and resources. It is fine to want things, but they become idols when we are ruled by the want of other things.
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Karan Malpass
3/29/2020 06:54:52 pm
" I think you make a good distinction that it is not about not wanting anything. Rather it is about the contentment found in Christ, like you described, that those wants rule us less and less."
Toni Muller
3/28/2020 09:15:01 pm
Seeing the Lord as my shepherd means that I can trust him to know and do what is best for me (note that I do not always choose to trust him in this way) and you and the entire universe. As Renée and Shannon have mentioned, sometimes shepherds must do what seems painful for the good of the sheep. I don't always like what is good for me and have recently found myself telling God that I really didn't like the story He has been writing for me and my family. But what do I really know since I am just a sheep? I find my truest peace and joy when I not only accept but rejoice in His shepherding.
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Richard Roberts
3/29/2020 04:08:20 pm
"I find my truest peace and joy when I not only accept but rejoice in his shepherding."
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Sheri
3/30/2020 01:29:32 pm
Aloha all, I am l a little behind. It is truly only by His grace that I can trust Him to be my Shepherd. When I think on that word, shepherd, I think of strong love and care. I think of the cost of a shepherd to protect his sheep. I think of a safe place, a refuge. How often my Shepherd's voice is quiet and the voice inside me is louder and then the world has a loud voice. Often times I do not listen closely enough to His voice and it is then that trouble befalls me. The Lord is opening my heart to the truth of His love and care for me. I have a hard time believing Jesus loves me the way He does. This verse reminds me that He does love me and is my Refuge, my Salvation. This rights my perspective and helps me to draw closer to Him and His Word. Oh Lord help me in my unbelief for Your glory and my good!
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Richard Roberts
3/30/2020 02:06:43 pm
Sheri, it is great to "hear" from you!
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