The Price the Shepherd Paid

Psalm 23  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
Listen from:
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)).
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:99For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)).
“O thou great, all-gracious Shepherd, shedding for us Thy life’s blood” (Little Flock Hymnbook, No. 40).
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
“The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head” (Matt. 8:2020And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20)).
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
“I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath” (Lam. 3:11I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. (Lamentations 3:1)).
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
“They gave Me also gall for My meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink” (Psa. 69:2121They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalm 69:21)).
Thou anointest my head with oil.
My cup runneth over.
“He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done” (Matt. 26:4242He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42)).
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
“Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none” (Psa. 69:2020Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. (Psalm 69:20)).
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. “I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop” (Psa. 102:77I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. (Psalm 102:7)).
R. Klassen, Jr. (adapted)