THE GOOD SHEPHERD (2)

What does a shepherd do? In the morning, he takes his rod and staff, his sling and stones.

No shepherd drives his sheep; he calls them to follow him.

The shepherd knows each sheep and lamb personally, and every one of their names.

They trust him because they known he looks after them, and will save them from danger.

The shepherd protects the sheep at all times. There are two dangers from which the shepherd must specially protect his sheep.

The first is poisonous plants.

The sheep does not know when a poisonous plant is not good grass.

If the sheep tries to eat the poisonous plant, the shepherd calls the sheep by name.

If the sheep ignores the shepherd's warning, the shepherd puts a stone in his sling and sends it flying under the sheep's nose without hurting it; to stop it eating the dangerous plant.

The shepherd also saves the sheep from snakes.

The snakes lie hidden and almost completely covered in sandy hollows.

The shepherd walking in front of the sheep moves the sand round with the crook's end where snakes may be hiding.

If he finds a snake, he keeps the sheep away from it.

In the evening, when the sun sets and the stars start to twinkle in the sky, the shepherd returns with his sheep to the fold, the sheep's safe home.

The shepherd calls each of them to him to turn, and holds his crook level with the ground.

The shepherd lets each sheep jump over the crook.

This shows the shepherd if any sheep is tired or lame.

The shepherd refreshes the tired sheep by pouring oil on their heads and soothing their hurts by rubbing oil into cuts and scratches.

After that, the shepherd fills a large, two-handled bowl to the top with cool water from a cistern which he always makes sure is full.

The shepherd kindly begins with the hurt or tired sheep, and gives them each a lovely cool drink of water.

They are so happy, and baa as they drink.

The shepherd refills the bowl after the sheep has drunk the water, so that none of the sheep need to strain to reach the water.

All the sheep thus have a cup that 'runneth over.'

The shepherd protects the sheep from wolves or robbers who could hurt the sheep.

So, King David was writing about God being the Great Shepherd, and we his human family are like His beloved sheep whom He cares for.

The great Son of God Jesus told us He is the Good Shepherd. 

This means that He tenderly cares for each of us, babies, girls and boys as tenderly as a good shepherd cares for his flock.

Psalm 23 is a blessed Psalm to pray .