Our Shepherd looks over us

While blindfolded draw words from the psalm so your team guess it

Identify with animals, why?

There is no right or wrong answer....Say your name and pick an animal that might describe you as a person.

The bible uses a sheep to represent us.

My is a short word in the sentence but it has a huge significance.

Look in v. 1. The Lord is my, my the pronoun could have easily been the, but it is not, it is my. Is that significant?? I know you are thinking why is he making a big dal about a little word. This idea of the Lord being Shepherd isn’t specific to just this passage. Jesus is the good shepherd like

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

says. But look here in the passage. The word is my shepherd King David who is writing this knows that the Lord is his personal shepherd.

Can you say the same???? Is the Lord (Jesus) your shepherd?? Or is he the shepherd and you are just a wondering sheep?

Here is what happens when you don’t have a shepherd and you are a wondering sheep...

A few years ago a news story broke about Shrek the sheep. Shrek was a Merino sheep who lived in New Zealand. Shrek became famous because he managed to avoid being captured and cared for six years. His wool continued to grow and thicken, and his eyes were eventually hidden behind the thick coat.

Shrek dodged the sheering by hiding in caves and running from his master. Once Shrek was finally captured and shorn, he carried 60 pounds of wool on his body, nearly six times the average amount. The wool on Shrek’s body was enough to produce 20 men’s dress suits.

We are often like Shrek the sheep as well. We hide from God, clinging to the things that need to be shorn from us. We become weighed down with the burdens God could easily remove from us.

Are you hiding from God or staying close to him so he can shepherd you?

Not want… this is defined as having a desire to possess or do something. to wish for. Has there ever been a day where you didn’t want??? If Jesus is your shepherd it is possible.

damaged or restored soul? V.3

restoring to original form

we can sometimes convince ourselves that we don’t

His leading is better than us wondering on our own. V.3

Your rod and staff provide comfort v. 4

As a child growing up in church, I remember seeing a picture of Jesus with a lamb wrapped around his neck. As I grew older and visited more churches, I remember seeing similar pictures at a lot of places. I never questioned the image. The Bible is clear that God is our shepherd, and we are the sheep of his pasture, so I assumed the image demonstrated that biblical truth. However, several years ago while I was attending seminary, the image of the lamb wrapped around the neck of Jesus was explained to me.

Because sheep tend to stray and will also follow wherever they are led, shepherds often had to discipline lambs that would stray from their shepherd. The shepherd would use his rod to break the leg of a wandering lamb. After binding the break, the shepherd would carry the lamb on his shoulders while the wound healed. If the lamb struggled and fought, it would quickly realize that the broken leg wouldn’t allow it to flee.

The lamb learned during the healing process that the shepherd could be trusted. The lamb needed the shepherd to provide food, transportation and protection. Once the wound was completely healed, the lamb was fiercely loyal to the shepherd and wouldn’t stray from the shepherd’s leading.