Brother Mike contrasts Joseph and his brother, Judah. Joseph was a man who followed God, even though he had been betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. He trusted that God had a plan for his life, no matter what the circumstances. Judah, a free man, thwarted God’s will in marrying a Canaanite woman and raising ungodly sons. Yet, Judah repented and turned back to God. So who did God choose for the lineage of Christ? Surprisingly it was Judah. In choosing Judah, God gave us a message of hope and shows us that He can use imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will. (Genesis 37-39 NKJV)

Psalm 100 counsels us to make a joyful shout to the LORD, regardless of our feelings, agendas, or circumstances. It is important to recognize who God is and His authority over our lives. We should serve the LORD with gladness, thanksgiving, and praise no matter what is happening in our lives. (Psalm 100: 1-2a NKJV)

“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” When we accept Jesus as our Savior, our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we die, we will be taken to Heaven but here on earth, we already dwell with Him as the Holy Spirit dwells with us. (Psalm 23: 6b KJV)

“You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” Shepherds put oil on their sheep’s head for several reason-to keep irritating pests from landing on the head, to protect against scabs, and to keep sheep from hurting each other when they butt heads. As Christians, we can keep the pests from filling our hearts and minds by filling them with scriptures, we can avoid the scabs of life by yielding to God’s discipline and directions, the oil of God’s Word can also help us avoid hurting our brothers and sisters even when we disagree and butt heads. (Psalm 23: 5b NKJV)

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. God uses the rod to signify authority, discipline (examination), and defense. Just as a shepherd uses his rod to establish his authority over the sheep, to sometimes discipline them and to defend them, we can receive comfort knowing that God is the final authority and that he loves us enough to discipline us and protect us. As the shepherd uses his staff, God also guides us, catches us when we fall, pulls us away from danger, and lets us know He is near and that we are special to Him. Psalm 23:4b NIV (supportive verses-Ezekiel 20:37; Hebrews 4:13; Romans 12:2; 1Peter 4:12-13)

Sheep need a lot of management. The shepherd has to make sure to keep them moving around to avoid overgrazing in one area. Overgrazing an area can not only lead to a lack of pasture, but can also foster the growth of parasites. However, sheep can also be very stubborn and not want to move from an area where they are comfortable. They have to be prodded by the Shepherd to move on to better pastures. Jesus, the Great Shepherd, encourages His sheep (us) to move on, to get out of their comfort zone, and to not hold on to things that are parasitic in their lives. Like sheep, we are often stubborn and need gentle (or not so gentle) prodding. (Psalm 23:3b NKJV)

As sheep depend on their shepherd for their care and safety, as Christians we depend on the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, to care for us and keep us safe. We can rest in the knowledge and faith that He will watch over us. (Psalm 23:1-2 NKJV)