REFLECTION: Psalm 23 MEMORY: Matthew 6:27-28 BENEDICTION: Rev 1:5b-6 Summary: Jesus is the good shepherd who deeply knows, loves, and gives His life for God's people! Shepherding Background: Most sheep were raised for Palestinian shepherding was an occupation See the tragedy of Matthew 9:36 in light of that. 1. THE TRUE AND GOOD SHEPHERD HIS SHEEP! ...false and bad shepherds scatter the sheep! John 10:1-5 Sheep know their shepherd's voice. The Shepherd knows his sheep intimately. See Psalm 139:15-16. 2. THE TRUE AND GOOD SHEPHERD HIS SHEEP! ...false and bad shepherds expose the sheep! John 10:7-10, 12-14 3. THE TRUE AND GOOD SHEPHERD GIVES HIS FOR HIS SHEEP! ...false and bad shepherds only look out for themselves and their interests! John 10:11, 15-18 Many great shepherds in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, etc. “A” good shepherd does not characteristically give his life for the sheep; “THE” Good Shepherd does. -Leon Morris The Great Shepherd - Hebrews 13:20-21 The Chief Shepherd - 1 Peter 5:4 See Exodus 34. Humanism has no way to find the universal in the areas of meaning and values...Humanism has changed the Twenty-third Psalm: They began—I am my shepherd Then—Sheep are my shepherd Then—Everything is my shepherd Finally—Nothing is my shepherd. There is a death wish inherent in humanism. —Francis Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?