* PSALM 23—Written by King David
* JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Bible Memory Verse
"I am the good shepherd…" John 10:11
In the land of Israel, where Jesus lived, many people were shepherds. WHAT IS A SHEPHERD? In our memory verse, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. Jesus meant that like a good shepherd took good care of his sheep, He takes good care of His people.
* PSALM 23—Written by King David
(1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” King David is saying that God takes care of him. God will give him everything he needs.
(2-3 “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.”
He is saying that God tells him what to do; he leads him to the things he needs, physical needs, emotional needs and spiritual needs.
(4 “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.” A rod and a staff were the two weapons the shepherd had to protect himself from wild animals, to guide the sheep or just to make it easier to walk. A rod was a short club and a staff was a long, straight stick. King David is saying that no matter what trouble he has to go through in life, he knows God is with him and will provide what is necessary to comfort him.
(5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” King David is saying that God will take care of him no matter if enemies surround him. Our enemies might be the devil and his demons that are trying to get our family or us to sin, but God has promised to protect us from them if we just trust Him.
(5 “You anoint my head with oil;” Anointing with oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Anointing your head with oil meant receiving God’s special blessing.
(5 “my cup overflows.” King David had more blessings than he could even count.
(6 “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” King David knew, that because he was a child of God, God would always take care of him life and forever.
1. Who wrote Psalm 23?
2. What were a rod and a staff?
3. What kind of a shepherd is Jesus?
4. Why is Jesus a good shepherd? Jesus As the Good Shepherd
* JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
John 10:11-13
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
(12 The hired man is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. (13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."
1 Who attacks the sheep? (wolf)
2. Who attacks people? (devil)
3. Who runs away when he sees the wolf coming because he cares nothing for the sheep? (hired hand)
Jesus is saying that some people will tell us there is another way to get to heaven besides believing in Him, but they are like the hired man that runs away. A good shepherd does everything he can for the sheep even risking his life against wolves, bears or lions that try to attack the sheep. Jesus was like a good shepherd because He is willing and able to care for all the needs of people. He loved people so much that He was willing to die to pay the debt for their sins. But Jesus did not stay dead. Now He is in heaven. We can pray to Him and He will take care of us just like the good shepherd will always take care of his sheep.