LED AND LOVED BY

MY SHEPHERD

As friends and I were coming from the north recently, heading home, I noticed flocks and flocks of sheep.  Some were grazing, some were resting. And I saw many little lambs with their mothers.  And all were feeding in Oregon’s green pastures. All was peaceful there in the pasture. Even the traffic and noise of the freeway did not disturb them.

My mind went immediately to Psalm 23, the very familiar Psalm of David.  I was reminded of my Beloved Shepherd.  My body was in pain from an injury suffered in leaving the retreat we were attending, and at that moment, I needed my Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd” Psalm 23:1.  He is Jehovah Raah, one of the compound names of our Wonderful Lord.  We have seen Him previously as Jehovah Shalom, our Peace, among many other names.

And we all are like sheep (Isaiah 53:6, John 10:27, Psalm 100:3). And what makes a difference in sheep is the shepherd.  If we are weak, helpless sheep, then He is our loving tender Shepherd.  And when we come to the New Testament, we see Jehovah Raah in all His fullness and amazing love, as Jesus said He was the Good Shepherd  in John 10:11

And as I gazed upon those sheep in Oregon’s pasture, I saw peaceful sheep.  But all is not peaceful in God’s flock of sheep, and we desperately need our Shepherd and His tender care.  Oh, we may look peaceful and may put on a good face, but many of God’s sheep are hurting.  Some of us are in pain.  Some of us are going through great times of grief, and other great trials.

No matter what the storm or how dark the path we know that our Shepherd is leading us.  I am reminded of a wonderful old hymn, and I love hymn stories and how they were written.  “God Leads us Along” reminds us of how we as sheep are led by our Shepherd.  Sometimes on the mount, where the sun is bright, sometimes in green pastures of rest, and sometimes in the valley where the night is dark,   and sometimes through great sorrow, but it is His grace and mercy and His great love that He leads us along.

The author of this hymn , George Young, was a carpenter and a pastor.  He didn’t make much money in either profession.  Most of his life was spent in small farming communities.  Finally, however, he and his wife were able to build their own home, and they moved in.  Shortly afterwards, while the Youngs were holding meetings in another small town, someone set fire to their house, and it was reduced to ashes.

It was probably out of that experience that George Young wrote this hymn and ended the chorus with these words: “Some thru great sorrow but God gives a song, / in the night season and all the day long.” (The Complete Book of Hymns by William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen)

GOD LEADS US ALONG

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet, God leads His dear children along.

Some thru the waters, some thru the flood, some thru the fire, but all thru the blood, some thru great sorrow, but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long.

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; sometimes in the valley, in the darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.

Tho’ sorrows befall us and Satan oppose, God leads His dear children along, thru grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads His dear children along. (George Young, 19^th Century).

“Now may the God of peace, who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-21

Blessings,

Pastor Sharon