“All We Like Sheep”…Isaiah 53:6 - Part 3

“All We Like Sheep”…Isaiah 53:6

Part 3

You probably remember the story of Moses, although a Hebrew by birth, he grew up in Pharaoh’s family of luxury and prominence. After witnessing one of his fellow Hebrew slaves being beaten by an Egyptian taskmaster, Moses stepped in and killed him. Fearing for his life, Moses flees Egypt. While “out on the lam” (no pun intended), he becomes a shepherd. The very opposite of the life he had been accustomed. He finds himself alone, scared, and hungry in the desert, caring for a bunch of needy sheep!

Can you name a few others in the Old Testament who were shepherds? How about Abraham, Jacob, David? It is important to know because these men had such an integral part in history of leading God’s people. (“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are his people, the sheep of His pasture”Psalm 100:3)

Yes, God has made us. He has gifted us with all that we need, to live a life following Him, living in His presence, fulfilling His will.

For the men listed above, God wanted them to lead His people, but they had to go thru some Sheep 101 schooling first, before they would be ready to lead. A much higher calling, leading a nation of Hebrews into a promised land, their land, one they could call their own. Freely Worshipping their one true God, the Good Shepherd.

David is attributed with writing Psalm 23 (along with many others), but it is in these six verses that we are comforted when fearful, delivered when in danger, and resolved to living a life under God’s control.

Many Bible scholars believe that David, while King, sat down and wrote Psalm 23 during a time when his own son was trying to kill him in order to take over the throne. I cannot imagine hiding out in the wilderness, running in fear from my son. Taking refuge in a damp, dark cave, hungry, thirsty, but most of all, deep sadness consuming him, thinking about his son. But David, thinking more about his God than himself…….sat down, prayed, and wrote:

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul, he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23

What faith! “…a man after God’s own heart…” 1 Samuel 13:14

Next week, we will continue with Part 4 of “All We Like Sheep…”