Moses and David were both greatly
used by God, who rendered salvation, manifested great deeds and transmitted His
words through them. The lives of these two leaders were legendary, and also
fore-shadowed Jesus Christ the Messiah. They both had some similarities that
are worthy of note: 1) Early on, they were caretakers of sheep, but later
shepherded the people. 2) They experienced many years of God¡¦s trials and
testing before becoming leaders worthy of the Lord¡¦s use. 3) Although they took
on the commission of leading and supervising the people, in the end they could
not participate in the mission they had longed for (Moses could not lead the
people into Canaan; David could not build the Holy Temple). 4) God spoke
through them ¡V Moses delivered God¡¦s laws and decrees to the Israelites; David
bequeathed many hymns of praise and exaltation of the Lord.
These two leaders both wrote great
hymns to memorialize the God who shepherded Israel. Deuteronomy chapter 32 is a
song of the Shepherd that the Lord commanded Moses to compose. Its purpose is
to bear witness to the unfaithfulness of the people (Deuteronomy 31:19-22).
David wrote Psalm 23, utilizing the perspective of mankind (sheep) to give
thanks to the Lord (the Shepherd). Let we learn about this loving ¡§God, the
Shepherd¡¨ through these two songs.
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God is our Shepherd and our Rock |
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Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my
Shepherd, I shall not be in want. |
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 I will proclaim the name of the Lord.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, His works are perfect,
and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just
is He. |
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God supplies us with material
abundance |
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Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in
green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, |
Deuteronomy 32:13-14 He made him
ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He
nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag,
with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats,
with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the
foaming blood of the grape. |
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God wishes us to know Him |
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Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul. He
guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. |
Deuteronomy 32:29 If only they
were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be! |
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God protects us through life¡¦s
dangers |
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Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, |
Deuteronomy 32:10 In a desert land
He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for
him; He guarded him as the apple of His eye, |
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God teaches us to mature through
trials |
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Psalm 23:4 For you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. |
Deuteronomy 32:11 Like an eagle
that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to
catch them and carries them on its pinions. |
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God opposes our enemies on our
behalf |
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Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup
overflows. |
Deuteronomy 32:40-41 I lift my
hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, when I sharpen my
flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on my
adversaries and repay those who hate me. |
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Our response: praise to God, the
Shepherd |
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Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and
love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of
the Lord forever. |
Deuteronomy 32:43 Rejoice, O
nations, with His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants; He
will take vengeance on His enemies and make atonement for His land and
people. |
By: Daniel To