Limitless Word

The Good Shepherd

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The LORD as shepherd of his people — and the Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.

One of Scripture's most tender images: God as a shepherd who leads, feeds, gathers, and seeks. David sings it in Psalm 23; Ezekiel rebukes the false shepherds and promises that God himself, and "my servant David," will shepherd the flock; Zechariah foresees the shepherd struck and the sheep scattered. Then Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" — and Revelation ends with "the Lamb... will be their shepherd."
  1. 1

    The LORD is my shepherd

    Psalms 23:1

    A Psalm by David. Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.

    David's psalm: the shepherd who leads, restores, and walks with us through the valley.
  2. 2

    God will shepherd his flock

    Ezekiel 34:15

    I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord Yahweh.

    Ezekiel condemns the false shepherds; God himself will seek and feed the sheep.
  3. 3

    Strike the shepherd

    Zechariah 13:7

    “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Armies. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; and I will turn my hand against the little ones.

    Zechariah foresees the shepherd struck and the sheep scattered — quoted of Jesus at Gethsemane.
  4. 4

    "I am the good shepherd"

    John 10:11

    I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

    Jesus lays down his life for the sheep and gathers one flock.
  5. 5

    The great shepherd of the sheep

    Hebrews 13:20

    Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,

    Hebrews blesses God who raised "the great shepherd" from the dead.
  6. 6

    The Lamb who is their shepherd

    Revelation 7:17

    for the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

    In glory the Lamb shepherds his people and wipes every tear away.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.