The "Good" Shepherd
Tiffany Ann Lewis 

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b)

e have heard this scripture enthusiastically preached over and over again, yet many Christians are not fully experiencing the abundant life Jesus mentioned in John 10:10.  Why?  What are we missing along this walk of faith?  Recently I had a vision that might help us understand.

In the vision, I was walking along a pathway with the Lord.  We were talking and enjoying each other’s company just as friends do.  I veered a little bit to the left so we could go another direction and suddenly the Lord was no longer beside me.  Instead, He was in front of me blocking my path, physically withstanding me. 

It’s shocking to realize that God would stand against us…but it is true.  Hosea 2:6 sheds some light on the subject saying, “Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, and wall her in, so that she cannot find her paths.”  The Good Shepherd doesn’t seem so good when He places a hedge of thorns before us…but He is. 

Beloved, God’s thorny hedge is a hedge of love.  This hedge is positioned in our lives to keep us on His chosen path and prevent us from forging our own.  The Lord wants to bless us, but only His paths lead to His promises.  In my vision, the Lord was blocking me because that wasn’t the way He wanted me to travel.  In standing against me, He was attempting to redirect my footsteps. 

As Spirit-filled believers, we should not be wrapped up in those thorns.  However, I have been ripped to shreds by that hedge more times than I care to admit.  The further into that thorny hedge I go, the more scratched up I get until (metaphorically speaking), I am laying on the ground struggling in my own blood desperately crying out to the Lord for help. 

Scripture teaches us that, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This way is the way, walk in it”…” (Isaiah 30:21)  We may not understand the how’s and why’s of it all but that’s why it’s called faith.  The book of Proverbs encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding saying that in turn, He will direct our paths.  It could be an unscheduled trip to the supermarket, or maybe a trip to the nations.  Either way, we will never know what blessings the Lord has for us on those paths, unless we obey His voice.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:27)   In Hebrew, the word “hear” is shema (Strong’s #8085) meaning; to hear, listen to, and obey.  It also means; to have the power to hear!  

“In that day the deaf shall hear…!” (Isaiah 29:18)  It’s no wonder Jesus came healing deaf ears; beloved, He wants us to be able to hear His voice.  When we come to have faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior/Messiah, our hearing is healed and the power to hear is restored.  

He who has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying. 

We have an opportunity to walk this journey guided by the Spirit of God!  Learning to walk starts with baby steps, so does learning to follow.  As we choose to walk closer with Him, we will get to know Him more intimately and our faith and trust in Him will grow.  We will surrender complete control of our lives because deep inside we know that He loves us and has our best interests in mind.  Now, that doesn’t mean when we pray we get our way but it will equip us to say “Thy will, not mine” even when the path leads us through the valley of the shadow of death.   

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, invites us to come follow Him.  Let’s take a walk through Psalm 23 reading it line upon line and precept upon precept to see what timeless wisdom is found there. 

“The Lord is my Shepherd.” The Lord is the Guide of our lives.   

“I shall not want.” In Hebrew this means that we shall not be lacking, or be without a need.  We might not have a Cadillac, but we shall not lack.  God is faithful. 

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures.”  I love the choice of words, “makes me” lie down.  Beloved, one way or another every knee will bow.     

“He leads me beside the still waters.”   This does not imply that there won’t be troubled waters.  Jesus warned us there would be tribulation (pressure, oppression, stress, anguish, adversity, crushing, squeezing, and/or distress).  But He said that because He overcame the world, when we are in Him and moving under the shadow of His wing, we can experience peace (still waters) even in the midst of a storm.   

“He restores my soul.”  Ahh…yes, restoration for our soul.  That’s what this is all about, finding rest for our soul in the midst of tribulation. 

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”  This is the second mention of being led.  We must take into account that if we are to be led in these paths we need to follow closely.  All that we walk through on this side of Heaven is for the sake of His glory, for the sake of His name.   “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  (John 11:4) 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.”   He promises to be there with us – He is Immanuel, God with us.  It is true that at times God’s path will lead us through these valleys; but we are not destined to say there.  Often fear causes our thoughts to begin to scatter.  As the worries of this world arise, we get nervous and emotionally turn this way or that way trying to find a way out. 

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  When anxieties arise, and they will arise, remember His love and His faithfulness, even if you can’t feel Him at the present time.   Find comfort in knowing that He is with you.  Remind yourself that His rod and staff are protecting you in ways you don’t recognize while you are walking through this dark valley. 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”  Here in the midst of our enemies, in the midst of the things that mock God as they grip our heart with fear; God anoints our head.  This is the oil that breaks the yoke of tribulation!  This is where the joy of the Lord becomes our strength to walk on. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” As we walk on following Him, we will be in the overflow of His goodness, of His mercy, of His presence.  We won’t have to beg Him for it; they will be following us because we are following Him. 

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”  HalleluYah!

Beloved, if there seems to be a thorny hedge in front of you and you feel like you are kicking against the goads, stop and turn around.  For behold, there stands an open door in heaven, you just may need to turn around to see it.  And if you look real closely, you’ll see the one who laid down His life for His sheep – the Good Shepherd.  Amen.