Inverting Psalm 23, some of us have probably seen "If the Lord is not my shepherd", laying out what we do not have, if we do not belong to God through Christ. No doubt you can find it quickly with a search engine.
But what did it cost the Lord Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd, the fulfilment of the promise made several times through various prophets that God himself would come and shepherd his people, to take on that role? What was his own experience, in order that ours might be that of this beautiful Psalm? This question invites us to have a go at the Psalm looking at it along these lines.
1 The Lord Jesus has become my shepherd; he suffered every want.
2 He left behind the green pastures; led into the waters of tumult.
3 His soul made an offering of sin; he was led away as one of the wicked for my sake.
4 Yes, he walked into the tomb, into death itself, and endured every evil; the rod of God's anger struck and no staff guided away, no comfort at his demise.
5 His enemies feasted at his death, as he was taken away from the table; his head was crowned with the thorns, and the cup of suffering overflowed.
6 Bitter hatred and scorn were his lot in life; he came and dwelt in our ruined house, to save us forever.
I'm not sure I've handled all the lines consistently and at the level of scanning there's infinite scope to do better. I hope somebody will!
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