Good, good shepherd

A leitmotif in scripture: images, music, prayers, free printables

SPRING SPECIAL OFFER! Click here to claim.

---

Gentle reader,

Last Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday, and—after hearing a beautiful sermon—I’ve continued to sit with the wonderful image of Jesus, our good shepherd.

Then, my farmer friend sent me a text:

“You just get going on a task, and the husband calls you over to spend an hour castrating sheep.”

I laughed and decided that this week, the good shepherd needs a post here at Church Blogmatics.

My pastor’s sermon traced the theme of shepherding through the scriptures, from a Genesis blessing from Jacob to Joseph to a promise in Revelation:

“The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys, and in them let my name be perpetuated and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac,
and let them grow into a multitude on the earth” (Genesis 48:15-16).

“for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17).

The Good Shepherd window at my church.

How many of us have drawn comfort from the 23rd Pslam, reminding ourselves, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

Based in the Psalm, is one of my favorite hymns:

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never. 
I nothing lack if I am his, 
and he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow, 
my ransomed soul he leadeth; 
and where the verdant pastures grow, 
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, 
but yet in love he sought me; 
and on his shoulder gently laid, 
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill, 
with thee, dear Lord, beside me; 
thy rod and staff my comfort still, 
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spreadst a table in my sight; 
thy unction grace bestoweth; 
and oh, what transport of delight 
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days, 
thy goodness faileth never; 
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise 
within thy house forever.

The piping shepherd (1864) William James Webbe (English, 1830-1904)

It’s the goodness of the shepherd that fills my heart with praise.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.” (John 10:11-18)

The Lord Is My Shepherd (1863)Eastman Johnson (American, 1824-1906)

All too often, I hear attempts to twist the word “good” to make it mean something else. But when scripture tells us of God’s goodness, it means it. God is good and does no evil. God is good and is all love. God is our good shepherd. Don’t buy it, friends, when someone tries to tell you God’s goodness can look like evil. Jesus is the good shepherd.

That goodness is, I think, the reason for the popularity of Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love,” with its reference to the One who “leaves the ninety-nine.”

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent’” (Luke 15:3-7).

Don’t miss this “The Lord is My Shepherd” playlist from Art & Theology.

Art and Theology also shares this image, from Instagram, from the 2019 series “The Shepherd” by Laura Makabresku, a fine-art photographer from Poland whose work is influenced by her Catholic faith.

May we revel in the goodness. May we relax in the shepherd’s arms.

To close today, a set of breath prayers drawn from shepherd texts in the scriptures: (scroll to the bottom of the post for free printables featuring these prayers)

---

(inhale) Peace is the great shepherd,

(exhale) the covenant signed in his blood.

(based in Hebrews 13:20)

---

(inhale) It is He that made us,

(exhale) the sheep of His pasture.

(based in Psalm 100:3)

---

(inhale) Oh, soul, like a sheep

(exhale) return to the shepherd.

(based in 1 Peter 2:25)

---

(inhale) green pastures

(exhale) still waters

(based in Psalm 23)

---

(inhale) He knows his own,

(exhale) His sheep know him.

(based in John 10)

A Study Made in the Sheep Pasture at Namen, Worthington Whittredge (American, 1820-1910)

Grace & peace,

BFJ

This piece contains associate links. As always, I’m grateful if you choose to subscribe, forward, or share. Want to support my work but can’t become a supporting subscriber? Buy me a coffee.

---

Consider taking a class with me at Northern Seminary, where we talk about theology, doctrine, the bible, and many other wonderful topics.

And check out streaming video courses on theology, church history, biblical studies, and more at Seminary Now. See my course and others from leading authors and professors.

---

Shop my Redbubble store.

---

Love audio books? Try Audible plus.

---

Ready to print on 8.5 x 11 paper or as an 8 x 10 photo. The second version has a plain background to save ink.