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
The LORD is my shepherd
Psalms 23:1The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need.
David's psalm: the shepherd who leads, restores, and walks with us through the valley. - 2
God will shepherd his flock
Ezekiel 34:15I Myself will feed My flock and I Myself will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God.
Ezekiel condemns the false shepherds; God himself will seek and feed the sheep. - 3
Strike the shepherd
Zechariah 13:7¶“Awake, sword, against My Shepherd, And against the Man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord 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
"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
The great shepherd of the sheep
Hebrews 13:20Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord,
Hebrews blesses God who raised "the great shepherd" from the dead. - 6
The Lamb who is their shepherd
Revelation 7:17for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
In glory the Lamb shepherds his people and wipes every tear away.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org