"PrayerPower"

"Prayer Power"

May 2007

PrayerPower- I Am – The Good Shepherd

Number 19

Sheep herding is lonely and difficult. Shepherds live in the fields with their flocks, far from home. While searching for green pastures and fresh water, shepherds must constantly guard against coyotes and wild dogs attacking the sheep. Sheep are meek and huddle together when frightened, making them easy prey for predators. Newborn lambs are at greatest risk, eagles and ravens often swoop down and carry them away.

In Jewish and Christian culture, shepherds play an important role. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David all were shepherds. God taught these patriarchs much as they tended sheep.

David found faith in God while alone in the hills. Later, God choose David to become a king of Israel. Jesus, the Messiah, came from David’s family line.

God promised David, “Your Seed I will establish forever and I will build up your throne for all generations.” (Ps 89:4)

Mt 1:1 states “The book of the ancestry of Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the son of David, and the son of Abraham.” Verses 1-16 list the genealogy of Christ, including David.

David wrote many of the prayer songs of the book of Psalms while tending sheep. One of the most famous is the 23^rd Psalm. It is called the Shepherd’s Psalm. This is what it says:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

David called The Lord his shepherd. John’s gospel and Psalm 23 tell us we also are “sheep” needing Jesus, the shepherd.

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14,15)

And “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27,28)

The Good Shepherd “lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:14,15)

The Good Shepherd dies to “give me eternal life” when I trust Him to forgive my sin. (John 10:27,28)

The Good Shepherd loves me, knows me, and provides for my needs – “I shall not want.” (Ps 23:1)

The Good Shepherd “restores my soul.” He heals my wounded spirit and broken, damaged emotions. (Ps 23:3

The Good Shepherd leads me safely through the “valley of the shadow of death” delivering me from all my fears and all my enemies. (Ps 23:4)

The Good Shepherd promises “I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever.” (Ps 23:6)

Imagine! Jesus, Son of God, became a lowly shepherd to die for us and lead us safely home to Heaven.

Is Jesus your Good Shepherd? Won’t you follow Him?

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Petey Prater is a Beaverton, OR, writer and speaker and can be reached at peteyprater@yahoo.com. She writes articles, poetry, and devotionals, and has contributed to three books.

Prayers for Troubled Times compiled by Jeannie St John Taylor, AMG Publishers and

101 Stories of Answered Prayer by Jeannie St John Taylor, AMG Publishers