It’s important that we put the Lord in His rightful place in our lives. He has many rightful places, and many rightful thrones. But one of the greatest roles He plays in our lives is as our shepherd. This role doesn’t just reflect a caring God, or a powerful one. It also doesn’t only reflect the fatherly role of the Lord. But it also reflects the close relationship and companionship of the Lord to His people.
This relationship is one that requires few things. It doesn’t require perfection, or sacrifice. It doesn’t require us to follow every single law in His Word. But one thing that it does require is us, dwelling in His presence.
Dwelling is super simple and doesn’t need much of an explanation to understand. A “dwelling” is someone’s home or resting place. It’s where someone goes to relax, sleep, and restore their strength. A dwelling place can be a house, an apartment, a car, or just wherever you go to restore your energy and rest. This makes for a beautiful analogy for our position in Christ.
Find Your Dwelling
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”” (Psalms 91:1-2).
There is importance in where you position yourself. If someone builds their resting place in an unsafe area, they just won’t really be safe. I used to play a game, where if you build your bed in certain places, it’ll instantly explode. That’s kinda like what happens in the real world. If I were to build my bed in the middle of the road, and sleep there overnight, there would be pretty immediate problems. But those that build their resting place in good, safe places, will have peace and a good nights rest. The same can be said for if those that make their dwelling in Christ.
Making your dwelling in Christ is the sure fire way to a life of peace and protection. Matthew Henry says this in his commentary on Psalms 91:
”He that by faith chooses God for his guardian shall find all that in him which he needs or can desire” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary).
In simple terms, when you decide to commune with God and find your true rest in Him, you will find all that you need and desire. All this is provided simply through communing with Him and finding rest in Him.
Trusting in Him
You won’t let someone take care of you if you don’t trust them. Trust is essential when it comes to relationships, love, and care. So, it is important that you trust God, if He is going to be your shepherd, or if He is your shepherd.
”The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever“ (Psalm 23).
This famous Psalm paints the picture of a shepherd and his sheep. David, the Psalmist, gives us a comforting glimpse into what being of the Lord’s flock looks like. There are two lines that stick out to me here.
“He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
These two verses show the trust that David has in the Lord. He trusts Him to guide him in paths of righteousness and he trusts the Lord so much, that he has no fear even in the scariest valleys. This trust led David to walk in relationship and intimacy with the Lord, and it led him to find all that he could ever need or want in Him.
”I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”
The man that knew the Lord well, and trusted in His faithfulness, made his dwelling in the house of the Lord. He prioritized his communion and relationship with the Lord, and this led David to develop the “shepherd-sheep” relationship with the Lord that we all should be seeking.
The shepherd provides for the sheep, and cares for them. He meets their needs, and cares for their hurts. He knows them, and longs to see them do well and prosper. This is what the Lord wants to do for all of us. But if we don’t dwell in the house of the Lord, and prioritize communion with Him, then that provision all too often falls short. And not for lack of provision itself, but for lack of relationship. The Lord simply can’t provide for those that don’t trust in Him, and trust comes by growing in relationship with Him and knowing His goodness.
