A Daily Devotion for Thursday, May 21

Ezekiel 34:11-24

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

“‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

The 23rd Psalm is so very beautiful. It is full of truths about our God. It is an amazement to me that this young man, David, could write something so beautiful. No need for advanced degrees or editors, publishers or promoters for David. He spoke God’s truth, and it has been passed on to us in this beautiful piece of literature. I also find this psalm a great source of comfort. I often recite it while lying down to sleep. It centers me with God, and I feel it expresses my love and thanksgiving. It also helps me to calm down and put things in perspective, reminding me that God is in control.

Holy Lord, you are indeed my shepherd, and I am full of thanksgiving. I lack nothing. Amen

Becky, transforming