“I 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. 8:9).
“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.
“Awake, O sword, against My shepherd.... Smite the shepherd” (Zech. 13:7).
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. 8:20).
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
“All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me” (Psa. 42:7).
He restoreth my soul.
“Now is My soul troubled.” “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (John 12:27; Matt. 26:38).
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
“He was led as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa. 53:7 JND).
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Why art Thou so far from helping Me?” (Psa. 22:1).
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
“I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath” (Lam. 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. 69:21).
Thou anointest my head with oil.
“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head... and took the reed, and smote Him on the head” (Matt. 27:29-30).
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. 26:42).
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. 69:20).
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. “I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop” (Psa. 102:7).
R. Klassen, Jr. (adapted)