The Lord is My Shepherd

At the house in Llangammarch Wells, it’s not uncommon to wake up and find sheep outside the house. Sheep are quiet interesting animals to study especially during the season when all their lambs are born. One March morning, Natasha’s morning devotion was interrupted by the sight of a sheep and her lambs by her window. She began to ponder on how much the sheep loves her lambs and doesn’t go anywhere without them. However from her observations from the past week she found that at the slighted hint of danger the sheep would flee and abandon her lambs. She found this strange and wondered “what defensive mechanism does the sheep have?” She was impressed to do some research on the characteristics of a sheep to gain a better understanding of how God designed and engineered this special animal. She conducted a search on Google and was lead to the website wiki.answers.com, this isn’t a religious website but after reading the answers it became very obvious to her how similar we humans are to sheep in the eyes of God.


The Lord is my shepherd*

1: Sheep must have a leader and must be told what to do and where to go otherwise they will wonder off and get lost.

“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” Numbers 27:16-17

“For thou art my rock and my fortress, therefore for thy names sake lead me and guide me.” Psalms 31:3

2: Sheep have little or no means of self-defence.

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” Psalms 31:1-4

3: Sheep constantly need fresh water and fresh pasture, but have very little discernment in choosing food or water.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leaded me beside the still waters.” Psalms 23:1-2

“They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them: for he that have mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.” Isaiah 49:10

4: Sheep will insist on going their own way and even eat poisonous plants or drink dirty water.

”All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way…” Isaiah 53:6

5: When sheep fall over on their back they are unable to right themselves back onto their feet (many sheep die in this position); if not turned over by the shepherd.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

6: Sheep need the most care out of all livestock. They are totally dependent on the shepherd for every need and need rod and staff guidance

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalms 23:1-4

I was truly blessed by this devotion when it was shared with me that Sabbath evening as it reminded me of how much we need Christ; we are his sheep and he is the good shepherd.

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalms 100:3

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

What’s even more interesting is that not only is Christ the good shepherd, he is also the lamb.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

He is both master and servant.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” Philippians 2:5-9

Obedience is the first and most important characteristics of a leader. Before one is to be a leader (shepherd) they must first learn/know how to follow, obey and serve (sheep). God really brought this point to my heart, simply by bringing Nataha's attension to a sheep and her lambs standing by her window one morning.

There’s much more to be learnt at Llangammarch Wells and lots more to be shared, this is only the beginning….stay tuned.

Love, your girl forever,

 ♥ Miss Daisy  ♥

*A devotional study by Natasha Walker