We have all been comforted by Psalm 23.  “The Lord is my shepherd…”  Yahweh is a shepherd to His people.  Jesus’ disciples fully understood the analogy.  But then comes a descendant of David who is also a shepherd.  Hear what He says!  “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” John 10:11 (NASB).  Connect the dots:  “The Lord is my shepherd…I am the good shepherd”.  Wow!  The good Shepherd stepped down by incarnation to walk among, guide and tenderly care for His sheep.  My oh my!  Think of it!

“I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.  I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.”  Ezekiel 34:14-16 (NRSV)