Did you ever get separated from your parents as a child? It’s a terrifying experience as a mother to turn and realize your child has slipped away and is nowhere in sight. I’ve read stories where the child was so frightened they would hide in clothes racks until they heard their mother’s call. Patrick Mayberry sings about our Good Shepherd in his song “Lead On Good Shepherd.” Our Good Shepherd calls out for us like a mother for her lost child. He searches for us, listening for our response to His call. Then, he gathers our trembling bodies and carries us back to safety.
The picture of a Good Shepherd is a thread woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. Let’s pull on this thread together in this week’s episode.
In this episode, I discuss the following:
- Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week’s Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Meditating on Scripture
- Repetition
- Consult an outside resource
- Episode Guide Download
- Savoring God’s words — especially those most familiar to us
- Here is the YouTube video of the Tootsie Pop commercial I mentioned – YouTube Video Link
- “The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament” by Kenneth Bailey – Amazon Paid Link
- Images of the Good Shepherd in the earliest catacombs – article link
- Comparing the texts of Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, and Luke 15
- Uncovering a better translation for Psalm 23:3 — rather than “he restores my soul,” it’s better translated as “he brings me back” — a common thread in Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, and Luke 15
- Responding to the Shepherd’s call and accepting being found
We should be slowing down and savoring God’s words more than we devour the words of others.
Enjoy the official lyric video of the song below.
More Than a Song Playlist
Additional Resources
- Lyrics for “Lead On Good Shepherd” by Patrick Mayberry – New Release Today
- The story behind the song “Lead On Good Shepherd” by Patrick Mayberry – KLove.com Article
- “The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament” by Kenneth Bailey – Amazon Paid Link
- Images of the Good Shepherd in the earliest catacombs – article link
- My favorite Bible Study Software – Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link
This Week’s Challenge
Read Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, and Luke 15 this week. I’ve thrown out a pile of threads for you to examine in light of the whole. Take one thread, untangle it from the rest, and view it under the microscope of each of these texts. Look for the role of the Good Shepherd and follow wherever He leads you.
