The Good Shepherd: Devotions Inspired by Psalm 23Sample

The Nature and Needs of Sheep 

By David Blease 

Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 (NLT) 

A cultural phenomenon took place in 2004 when a sheep was discovered to have survived several years without a shepherd. You may remember hearing about this sheep whose name was Shrek. The first time I saw a picture of Shrek, I laughed because he looked ridiculously large and puffy. However, I quickly learned this was actually not a funny situation but a tragic one. 

You see, a sheep’s wool needs to be sheared about once a year. If they aren’t sheared, their coat grows too large and becomes matted. Dirt and droppings can become entangled in their wool and nest there causing infection. But most troubling is when left unsheared, sheep have trouble regulating their temperature, and many die from overheating.

It was a miracle Shrek was even alive after six years of avoiding his shepherd by hiding in caves! When he came back, he could hardly walk, eat, and function the way a sheep was created to. Why? Because Shrek was overburdened with a heavy coat he was never created to bear. 

The word “sheep” is one of the most common analogies God uses to describe people in the Bible, and He often refers to Himself as our Shepherd. In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” And Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” 

Now, the word “want” in Psalm 23 is not the greatest translation in modern English because it gives the impression that if God is your Shepherd, He will give you whatever you want. But the word “want” here does not mean “desire.” It literally means “lack.” God is saying we will lack nothing as His sheep. Which begs the question, what do we as His sheep need? 

We could talk about the things real sheep need like a good pasture, fresh water, minerals, and rest. And while I’m sure we could find biblical applications for all those things, when it comes down to it, a sheep ultimately has only one need: a shepherd. Jesus’ actions in Matthew 9:36 affirm this truth: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” 

When we, like Shrek, walk away from our Shepherd, we can take on a heavy coat we were never created to carry. It may not even involve us actively walking away from Him. The truth is when we don’t have consistent intimacy with the Lord—a regular, ongoing, close relationship—we become weighed down with burdens we were never meant to bear. I talk with so many people who feel overwhelmed with worry, apprehension, and fear. I usually ask about their intimacy with Jesus—their quiet time and their overall relationship with Him. They often respond saying that they have been distant from God. Their situations always remind me of Shrek, a sheep whose coat grew out of control because he avoided his shepherd. 

But here’s the good news. In Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When we come to the Shepherd, He promises to free us of that weight! 

When Shrek returned to his shepherd, they sheared him for the first time, and he emerged from his old burden. If you see the pictures online of this shearing, it looks as if he is being born again out of his old coat. What a beautiful picture of our need for our Shepherd! 

PRAYER 

Lord, thank You for being our Good Shepherd. You promise we will never lack anything we need, and You make our burdens light. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION   

• Do you feel weighed down? Are you carrying burdens too heavy for you?   
• How close are you with the Shepherd? Come back to your Shepherd today and allow Him to shear away the cares, worries, and burdens you have taken on yourself over the years.   
• Do you need to allow God to strip back unrighteous burdens? Maybe you need to be born again and fully give your life to Jesus! Maybe you, like Shrek, have walked away and need to come back home. Remember, His yoke is easy to bear, and His burden is light.

Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me today?

MEMORY VERSE

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1