A PSALM OF DAVID
(Psa 23:1-6)
A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my
shepherd [“to feed, guide
and
shield me” Amplif.] [1,2,3]; I
shall not want [4,5]. He maketh me to lie down [without
fear] in green pastures [full of
lush green grass]: he leadeth me
beside the still waters [peaceful
pools of clean pure waters] [6]. He
restoreth [quickens] my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness [paths of
correct doctrines] for his name's
sake [that we might glorify Him as
Holy God]. Yea, though I walk
through the [“deep, sunless”
Amplif.] valley of the shadow [the threat] of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod
[for my protection] and thy
staff [for my guidance] they comfort me. Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies [that
surround me]: thou
anointest my head [my
thoughts] with oil
[of the Old Testament Holy Spirit]; my cup
[of New
Testment wine of the Holy Spirit] runneth
over [Heb: satisfaction]
[my cup
is beyond the fullness of my satisfaction, destined (intended) to
splash over
upon others - brimming]. Surely goodness
and mercy [“and unfailing
love”
Amplif.] shall follow me all the
days of my life: and I will dwell in the house [and
the presence] of the
LORD for ever.
I AM THE GOOD
SHEPHERD
(John
10:1-5)
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold [Dict:
an
enclosure for sheep], but
climbeth up some other way
[of
his own volition, an intrusion, an invasion],
the same is a thief and a robber [guilty of breaking and entering]. But he that
entereth in by
the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him
the porter [Gk:
(a watcher);
a gate warden] [i.e., the Holy Spirit] openeth;
and the sheep hear his voice:
and
he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth
forth his own sheep, he goeth before them,
and the sheep follow him:
for they know his voice.
And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee
from him: for they know not the
voice of strangers.
(John 10:6-9)
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they
understood not what
things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them
again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that
ever came before me are thieves [stealing
your salvation from you] and robbers
[of your joy]:
but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by
me if any
man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall
go in and out [of the
sheepfold], and find pasture.
(John 10:10-13)
The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I
am come
that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the
good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he
that is an
hireling [Gk: a wage
worker (good
or bad): hired servant], and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the
wolf coming, and
leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them,
and scattereth
the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth
not for the sheep.
(John 10:14-18)
I
am the good shepherd, and know my sheep,
and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even
so know I the
Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep [an expression of ultimate love]. And other sheep I have, which
are not of this fold [an
enclosure for sheep]: them also I
must bring, and they shall
hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and
one shepherd. Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life,
that I might take
it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment
have I received of my Father.
(Luk
15:4-7)
What man of you, having [i.e., owning]
an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them [to backsliding],
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness [1],
and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath
found it, he layeth
it on his shoulders,
rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his
friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me;
for I have found my [backslidden] sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that
likewise joy shall be in heaven over one
sinner that repenteth [Gk:
to reconsider, to think differently],
more than over ninety and nine just [Gk:
innocent, holy: righteous] persons, which
need no repentance
[Gk: to reconsider, to think differently].
Amen