Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd;...
SHEPHERDING FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY
In bible times,the duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to market areas in time for shearing.David understood fully what the work of a shepherd was in context of his immediate environment. He was a shepherd boy who protected his father's flock from the paw of Lion and bear when they came to attack (1 Sam 17:34-37). He had a practical understanding of shepherding. The primary assignment of every shepherd is to protect, secure and ensure the safety of the sheep. Probably, he was in danger in need of safety when he said, "the Lord is my shepherd". Don't forget that David was a war veteran yet he lost hope in his military credentials and he acknowledged God as his shepherd.
When I read about the spate of insecurity in our world today, I was startled. Over the past decade, terrorists killed an average of 21,000 people worldwide each year. The global death toll from terrorism over the past decade ranged from 8,000 in 2010 to a high of 44,000 in 2014. In 2017, terrorism was responsible for 0.05% of global deaths. Terrorism tends to be very geographically-focused: 95% of deaths in 2017 occurred in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia. In most countries terrorism accounts for less than 0.01% of deaths, but in countries of high-conflict, this can be as much as several percent. Airline hijackings were once common but are very rare today. Public concern about terrorism is high – in many countries more than half say they are concerned about being a victim. Media coverage of terrorism is often disproportionate to its frequency and share of deaths.
Truly, there is danger in our world today. No one can predict the next minutes. Terrorists are busy with their business of terrorizing, ritual killings is rampant and the number of deaths from road accidents is not reducing. We live in times when the security architecture of nations have failed. Who do we turn to for safety if not the shepherd of our souls. It is good to put in place good security measures but every human security system have their lapses. Our trust must be in the great shepherd who can secure our lives without any security lapses. It is high time we started walking in the realities of Psalm 23 so that we can boldly say, 'the Lord is my shepherd' not just as a mere recitation but as a daily experience. Put your life in the hands of that great Shepherd, he never fails.
CONFESSION: My life is secure in God. The Lord is my shepherd, I remain in the hollow of his hands. No evil shall come near me and my family. We are preserved by the blood of the lamb In Jesus name. As from today, I begin to walk in the reality of Psalm 23