The Good Shepherd

My wife is in a small group Bible Study. There text is W. Phillip Keller's significant 1970 book A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23. Years ago I was introduced to Keller. Seeing Barb's book sitting next to our comfortable recliner, I picked it up to refresh my memory.

The last chapter was an eye opener which I must share with you. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Will a good shepherd actually leave (abandon) his sheep to live in a lavish mansion with hot and cold running water, air-conditioning and a matchless view?

The shepherd's story remains a shepherd's story. So, back to the beginning: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Maybe that kid did recite it advisably: If the Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want. Most of us have never tended sheep, made them lie down or led them over rough terrain to quiet, not rushing water which they cannot handle.

What does a good shepherd do? Do they deprive their sheep of water because they knew how rough the trail would be? Do they force the sheep to lie down because they were fatigued rather than let them roam until they collapsed? Do they dilly dally along the dangerous, treacherous trail tempting those hungry, predatory wild creatures to attack? Do they round up their flock at night, counting each one as they entered the safety of shepherd's fold but then turn them loose as they go looking for a sheep that was missing?

The Psalm describes firsthand what a good shepherd does for his flock: the healthy and vigorous, the halt and the lame, the perpetual wanderer and the deliberately obstinate plus the tiny lambs who never could keep up with the flock. The fold, every single lamb, ewe or ram mattered; they were protected, coddled or disciplined when necessary. There doubtless were those who needed or demanded more attention but a good shepherd didn't play favorites.

The 23rd Psalm is a masterpiece. It has persevered for thousands of years and addresses the 22nd century equally well. A good shepherd took such good care of his sheep that Keller wrote that sheep were so deeply satisfied with the flock to which they belonged, that with the ownership of this particular shepherd there was no desire to change. Now the purpose of this Psalm becomes clear: When the Good Lord truly is our shepherd, we will want to dwell in the presence of the Lord forever.

Phillip Keller was born in East Africa, lost his young, precious wife to cancer, remarried later and together they penned about 25 books. Keller was raised the son of a shepherd, became one himself, and applied his experiences as a lay pastor and author.