“The LORD is my shepherd; I SHALL NOT WANT…Yea, though I WALK THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will FEAR NO EVIL; For You are WITH ME.” (Psa. 23:1-4) Interestingly enough, King David, who was once a shepherd himself, wrote this Psalm. Now in Israelite culture, to be a shepherd was considered lowly work given usually to the youngest family member, like David — who was the youngest of his brothers and overlooked by his father. Now I find it intriguing that David, who was also warrior and then a king, chose to look back at his time AS A SHEPHERD to paint a picture of how God cares for us. “…the LORD said to Samuel, “Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse…For I have provided Myself A KING among his sons.“ (1 Sam. 16:1) Jesse had 8 sons, when Samuel arrived there were 7 sons present. David was not there because he was JUST A SHEPHERD.
“…Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen these. Are all the young men here?” He said, “There the youngest, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said, “bring him. So he brought him. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for THIS IS THE ONE!” (1 Sam. 16:10-12) We must remember God’s has HIS CRITERIA for choosing us, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…” (1 Corin. 1:27) Why does He do this? So that, “…no flesh SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE.” (1 Corin. 1:29) He is the Lord God Almighty, deserving of all the GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE!!!
“For thus says the HIGH AND LOFTY ONE Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a CONTRITE AND HUMBLE spirit, TO REVIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE HUMBLE, AND TO REVIVE THE HEART OF THE CONTRITE ONES…” (Isa. 57:15)
-Bill Stockham