What Makes A Good Shepherd?

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. His example is the benchmark for all shepherds.

Psalm 23 is the most beloved Psalm written by David.

It begins, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

This underscores that The Lord meets every need that His sheep has.

Matthew 6:31-34 (NKJV) “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters."

Green pastures implies healthy grass for the sheep to rest on and to feed. The Good Shepherd knows where the green pastures and waters of rest are. The Good Shepherd doesn't want the sheep to be unhealthy or startled by troubled waters. The Good Shepherd want His sheep to be at rest.

When you arrive at green pastures, it's not just to feed, but you're lying down. You're at rest after a long tedious journey.

When the Scriptures says "He makes me to lie down," this clearly underscores His command over the sheep. Even though this is just an added phrase, it fits because we obey the voice of the Shepherd as recorded in John 10.

John 10:3-5 (NKJV) "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The sheep are confident that the Shepherd will not mislead them or give them a command that brings them into error and sin.

The sheep completely trust the Shepherd.

John 10:16 (NKJV)

"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."

But also the Shepherd knows where the calm tranquil waters are for the sheep to drink.

"Waters of rest."

On three occasions, the Lord mentions water.

John 4:10 (NKJV)

"Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

John 7:37-38 (NKJV) "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Revelation 22:16-17 (NKJV) “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

The Good Shepherd will urge you to come to Him because He will give you rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

So when you see "find rest for your souls..." go back to "...He leads me beside the still waters or waters of rest."

Bad shepherds will not feed you the Word of God. They'll feed you platitudes and smooth words to make disciples after themselves. They know how to exploit you because they're trained in covetous practices to extort money from you (see 2 Peter chapter 2).

They're known as hirelings that don't care for the sheep.

John 10:12-13 (NKJV) "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep."

Bad shepherds will not give you rest for your soul nor will they lead you beside still waters or waters of rest.

The Good Shepherd knows how to make stormy waters calm.

Mark 4:37-39 (NKJV) "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.

And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."

The Good Shepherd knows how to do both. Lead you beside still waters or waters of rest and if you're in a storm of life, He knows how to command your storm by saying from heaven.....

"Peace. Be still!"

John 16:23-24 (NKJV) “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

We don't command, confess, decree or demand.

We ask the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Father will give you.

This is just a small sample of what makes a Good Shepherd and only the Lord Jesus fits the definition of what makes a Good Shepherd.