I was struck by this as I read it this morning:
15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil..." [Genesis 48:15-16a English Standard Version (ESV)]
Many of us would say that God is our shepherd. But there is something about Israel, formerly Jacob, saying this, the man who worked 7 years taking care of his father-in-law's flocks for each of his wives. He knew what it meant to be a shepherd.
David also knew what it meant to be a shepherd, and he wrote:
Psalm 23 English Standard Version (ESV)
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
