The Lord is my Shepherd
In the Old Testament the idea of sheep and shepherds comes through strongly.
Zephaniah 2.1-15
Reference: v. 7a It will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. (NIV Bible)
Explore: The prophet Zephaniah is bringing much doom to many people. He speaks of the massive destruction that God will bring. Then, in just two verses, right in the middle of this chapter, he mentions a pasture where those who are still on God’s side will be restored and cared for; like a harbour in the tempest (to quote Bono!) And the analogy the prophet uses is that of shepherds and sheep finding good pasture. This idea of nourishing the flock gives hope not just to the animals but the whole family, as they are able to secure their livelihood and have hope for the future.
Application: It’s no surprise that Jesus is called the Lamb of God; He is the hope for the future. It’s no surprise that Jesus is depicted as a Shepherd for the people; He is our guide to safe places. There is nothing more that we could need than hope and faith in God. While you may not be a shepherd or even live anywhere near a farm, we can understand the hope that a health, refreshed flock can bring. How much more hope does our Saviour and Lord bring to each one of us?
Prayer: Lord, you are the ultimate. You give each person hope for a better future and you refresh our souls when we rely on You. Thank you. Amen.
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.