Road Tripping with the Shepherd

Welcome to My Beloved Shepherd Blog, a deeply personal meditation on Psalm 23 from the Bible. Today we’re looking at the second line in verse three:

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

SUMMERTIME!

When summer comes, we get out and do new things! We go camping and hiking in the Appalachians, mountain climbing in the Rockies, we go to family reunions at the lake and make the trek to Disney. It seems the British are always going to the sea or the country for the summer.

It's no different for the sheep if you can believe that.

Sheep typically spend the fall and winter months in the lower altitudes. But when summer comes, the shepherd takes them on a trip. They make their way up to the highlands or tablelands where the vegetation is fresh and sweet. In the fall they come back down fat and happy. This ancient practice of moving the sheep to the summer highlands is still practiced by many sheep farmers around the world.

In Psalm 23, we have a picture of this very thing in the second half of verse three.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

What a Shepherd!

Up to this point in the psalm, the Shepherd has been taking care of the sheep and helping them with their many sheep "issues." The first five lines catalog an impressive course of nurturing, healing, and restoring that the Shepherd does for the sheep. But now they are ready for the next stage and what a beautiful stage it is - Movement! The sheep are ready for a journey.

We all know that life is a journey, right? But this verse is about a special kind of journey that the Shepherd of our soul takes us on. We are ready to move to a higher place. The lowlands have served their purpose in our lives. But it is time to go to the next level.

In Psalm 23, the Shepherd does everything for the sheep. He supplies all they need, he guides them to the best food and water, he protects them, gives them safety, peace, and happiness. He has his eye on every aspect of their life. This journey is no different. The Shepherd has scouted out the path and planned every step of the journey. He knows where the rough spots are and where it's steep and he'll need to slow the pace. The Shepherd has also planned the rest stops, knowing that the sheep will tire and need breaks. After all that, he also leads the sheep and is with them every minute, every step of the journey. They are never alone, never uncared for, never lost. Except - when they wander away from the Shepherd. These happy sheep are loved, guided, protected, and provided for at all times.

I Wish I Did

Do you feel that way - that you are constantly in the care and love of the Lord, who is providing and guiding every day? Often, we don't feel like there is a Shepherd of love, carefully leading us to a better place. Instead, we feel alone, confused, floundering in the world. We don't know what we're supposed to be doing or where to go.

This is often the real journey of our life - learning to trust and follow the Lord. He knows the way. He wants to help us get there. His intentions are 100% loving. And he is completely capable of leading us. But we don't know that. We’re afraid he just doesn’t care. Or that he is as limited as we are.

This makes me think of my dear little cats, Max and Daisy.

How a cat sees it

Max and Daisy see me grab my purse and walk out the garage door, they hear the rumble of the car engine for a moment and then silence. Then later, they hear that sound again and I walk through the door with a bag of their Blue Buffalo cat food. And that's all they know. That's it!

They don't understand how I have to put a key in the ignition to start the combustible engine that burns fossil fuel mined from deep within the earth. They have no idea how to drive a car, shifting the gears, using the blinkers, gas and brake pedal, finding the Stand-up Comedy radio station. They can't comprehend the grocery store with its aisles and aisles of food, the transportation of goods that spans not just the nation but the world to get it there, with trade agreements made in the highest places of power. No, they only understand that I have their food and I'm going to give it to them and then pet them and scratch under their little chins until they roll on their backs.

This is how it is with our beloved Shepherd. He is so far above and beyond us, seeing things from an eternal point of view. He has knowledge, control, and power beyond our ability to comprehend It. We can trust him that he’s got a plan for our lives and it’s a good plan. He knows what he’s doing. He is doing everything out of love for us.

The very first edition of Google Maps

In the Old Testament, the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for many years. Pharaoh has finally set them free to leave to go to the Promised Land. They start on this arduous journey with no road map, to a place they’ve never been, guided by some old guy they barely know. God knows how afraid and weak they are. He gives them a special sign to remind them that he is with them. During the day, it is a pillar of clouds and at night a pillar of fire. But it isn’t just to comfort them, this pillar is also their guide. Where it moved, the Israelites had to follow it. It was there every day and every night of their entire journey. All they have to do is look up.

Let me say that again. All they have to do is look up.

Look UP!

And that’s what we need to do. Look up from the very present fears, the overwhelming circumstances, the mess of humanity, the personal inadequacy, the oncoming disaster.

Look to the Shepherd, look to his love, look to his promise.

Where are you today? What has captured your focus? What do you need to look up from?

I’ve written a little song about this. I plan to put it on YouTube soon, but here are the words

Look Up Here

Verse One

I’ve got my head down to the ground

I’m looking around but it just can’t be found.

Does it make a sound, can I feel its touch?

I only know I need it so much

Could it be friends or maybe it’s things?

Or being the best, kaching, kaching.

Those seem so small, I need something tall.

Could it be you? Could it be you?

Chorus

Look up here above, into my eyes of love.

And you will see, my little sheep

I have all that you need

Turn away from that

You want the truth that lasts

I give you my word, your prayers I have heard.

I am your good Shepherd.

Turn away, look up here, look to me.

Verse Two

I’ve got my head up in the clouds

I’m making big sounds and shouting out loud.

Come listen to me, I’m as smart as can be.

You can’t go wrong if you’re singing my song!

Oh No, I’m falling down

Straight onto the hard, hard ground

It’s gonna hurt bad when I smash my head.

I wish I’d listened to what you said.

Chorus

Bar

I am your shepherd

I have all that you want and more

Green pastures still waters

And a soul that’s been restored

I’ve made a path for you.

And even when it’s dark as night,

I’m with you, I’m guiding you

Back into the light.

Come to the high place,

For your anointing

To become my royal priests!

Chorus

Believe!

Believe that Our Beloved Shepherd has is taking you on a good journey to a better place. Look away from all the muck of life and lift your eyes to him.