What does it mean for LORD to be our shepherd?

The word shepherd occurs 118 times in the NIV Bible, 23 of which are in the New Testament. Of these New Testament references, most refer to Jesus. Obviously, the word is important, yet its full meaning is likely to escape those of us who have never lived or worked around sheep. I have a cousin who is a cowboy, but I have never known a shepherd. My knowledge of sheep and shepherding comes mainly from episodes of “Shaun the Sheep”, which I doubt paint an accurate picture!

Here we take a look at three well-known scriptures about our spiritual shepherd. Let’s read these scriptures with fresh eyes, letting the imagery sink deeply in: 
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." – Psalm 23: 1

A sheep is entirely dependent on its shepherd for everything. It is easily spooked and prone to wandering. It also doesn’t defend itself well, preferring to huddle or simply flee in the face of danger. Does this sound familiar? A shepherd truly holds every detail of his flock’s well-being in his hands. Notice that the psalm doesn’t say the Lord is like a shepherd, but rather that the Lord is a shepherd-it’s literally what He does. We needn’t fool ourselves about our fragility, and we should trust that God takes our smallest need seriously. 

• Devotion: Show me my fragility, Lord, and my absolute dependence on you in everything I do, and show me all the ways that you provide, protect, and guide me. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep". –John 10: 11–15

“I am the good shepherd”- Jesus proclaims this twice! He is a good shepherd because he cares deeply for the flock, unlike the hired hand who flees at the first sign of danger. A good shepherd is one who develops a tight, sacrificial bond with his sheep, to the point that he knows them and they know him. For the shepherd, this means picking his sheep out of a larger mob and knowing which are his. For the sheep, this means recognising his distinctive voice when he calls to them (John 10: 3–4).

• Devotion: Thank you, Jesus, that you know me by sight, and that you stand watch over me, shielding me from the “wolves” of life. Teach me to respond to your voice every time you call.

What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? – Matthew 18: 12

Jesus is addressing a group all too familiar with the wiles of sheep. They also understand the duty a shepherd has to protect them at all costs-even the odd one that wanders off to do its own thing. Is that wandering sheep ever you? You graze along through life, doing your thing, and suddenly you realise your flock is nowhere in sight. But here comes your good shepherd! He picks you up and carries you back to the others on his shoulders and rejoices over you because you were lost but now are found (Luke 15: 5–6)!

•  Devotion: Praise you, Jesus, that you treasure me so much as to pursue me when I wander from the flock, and that you rejoice over me as you carry me back. I’m yours, Jesus, and you are mine.

What does it mean for the Lord to be our shepherd? It means we don’t need to learn the field; we need only know the shepherd. It means we have one who carries us home when we wander. It means we aren’t lost in the crowd, because we have a Good Shepherd who loves us deeply.
 

This article was originally published in the Spring 2026 edition of the TFT magazine, Ascend. Click the button below to download your copy.