As a very young man tending his father's sheep, David grew very close to God. Just as with any relationship, the more time we spend with any individual the better we get to know that person. Anyone who has ever been in love understands how that love grows when the person you love is everything you could ever hope for and much more. This is especially so when that person happens to be Jesus. David knew his Shepherd well, and in the 103rd Psalm he extols the virtues and rewards of trusting and following Jesus, the Shepherd of our Souls.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." Psalm 103:1-5
In the above passage David's heart pours out the love that he has for the Lord, listing some of the benefits he was reaping by following the Great Shepherd. The Bible say's that David was a man after God's own heart. I suppose he may have known the Lord as well as any person on earth is able to know Him. The 103rd Psalm is a testimony from someone very near to the heart of God.
God speaks to our hearts through His word, revealing the great love He has for every person that has ever been born. He has an intense yearning to bless, to provide, protect, and to care for us, to lavish His love upon us, just as a Shepherd does his sheep. But we too have a role to fulfill. We must follow Jesus. Like sheep we sometimes wander off and go astray. In fact the Bible says, "All we like sheep have gone astray." Yet by placing our faith in Jesus and trusting Him we can fall into step behind Him. And by moving forward in obedience we too will receive all of the glorious riches of His provisions and grace.
Praise be to Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, the blessed redeemer and our benefactor!
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