The Work of a Shepard and The 23rd Psalm

In biblical times if you were not a Soldier,a King,a pharisee,a stonemason,
a carpenter,an artisan,a slave,a farmer,a scribe,or a merchant-chances are you
were Shepard.The terms of a shepards work are found throughout the Bible.The
most well known is surely "The 23rd Psalm".It's one of the most well known pass-
ages in the bible and one that is often quoted.
"The lord is my shepard" it begins,"i shall not want".The rest of the psalm is
full of referances to the work that a shepard does-"Thy rod and thy staff comfort
me","thou annointest my me with oil"-both of these statements are truely a part
of a shepards everyday duties.The shepard carries a rod or a staff with a hook on
the end.At the end of each day the shepard counts and inspects each sheep and if
he finds anything unusual he will use his rod to pull the sheep aside.He will then
tend to it's wounds and annoint it's head with olive oil.
"He leadeth me beside still waters".Strangly sheep will not drink from a running
stream or any moving water.They will only drink water that is still.So this line in
the psalm is a perfect description of this special need which the shepard provides
to his flock of sheep -because he knows exactly what thier needs are and it's his
duty to provide them.
The Great book "The Oregon Desert" describes how the sheepherders in the old
day's noticed how "The 23rd Psalm" was an exact description of thier duties as a
shepards.It became a tradition to pass this knowledge on from generation to
generation,in this part of the west.
As perfect a description of a shepards work as the 23rd psalm is-it's plain to
see that the language is pointing to something much bigger than the work of any
single man or woman.It's place in the bible has a much wider meaning for all
Christian people's of the world."The lord is my shepard,i shall not want"."Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me the rest of my days of life and i will dwell in
the house of the lord Forever".

Merry Christmas and may God Bless,

Pete Holly 12/24/2009