psalm

encouragement, forgiveness, good shepherd, sheep

Our Great Shepherd: His care and love are everlasting

Posted on April 13, 2026 by elizabethprata

‎By Elizabeth Prata

In biblical times, a shepherd’s main concern was the welfare of the flock. Providing the sheep with food and waters as well as guarding them from predators and thieves were primary responsibilities. Highlighting this relationship, Jesus says in the scripture, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). [from Logos Bible Software]

But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness. (Psalm 78:52).

Since moving to this county twenty years ago, I have never ceased to enjoy the sight of numerous animals dotting the landscape. We are a high-producing agriculture county. Lots of animals around, domestic and otherwise.

There are many pastures. I regularly see cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, chickens, and sometimes emus, buffalo, hawks, foxes, and even coyotes.

Reading about the animals in the Bible is wonderful and interesting. However, being among the animals mentioned in the Bible and observing them is another layer of understanding entirely. WHee I lived for 13 years, for a period of time the neighbor on the other side of the duplex was a shepherdess. I love watching the pastured sheep next door. Their life cycle, cavorting lambs, the nursing, the hay, grass, and stubble that they eat, the wool, their grazing, their recent escapes from the field lol, all interesting.

The Bible refers to the body of Christ as sheep. Am I a sheep? Yes, says Jesus, metaphorically. He is my Shepherd. What a glorious metaphor. I love to think of The Perfect herding me, caring for me, leading me, protecting me. Everything He does is perfect so His care of the sheep will also be perfect, and I can and do rest in that knowledge.

It’s a good metaphor. He could have likened us to badgers, angry and contentious. He could have called us after the evil one who is god of the earth- a lion, a prowling predator seeking after sin and devouring others. He could have called us a spider, an insect nobody likes. I mean, really. A sheep is good.

In my Logos 6 software one can research by topic. I found these biblical facts about sheep:

The sheep is the first animal specified by name in the sacred writings. Abel, himself a shepherd, offered the firstlings of his flock to the Lord (Gen. 4:4). Abraham was very rich in sheep, and Job at one time had 14,000 amongst his herds. In 2 Kings 3:4 we read of a Moabitish shepherd-king who gave a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and a hundred thousand rams; and this country is still inhabited by owners of vast herds of sheep, the Beni Sakkr sheikhs. Solomon celebrated the dedication of the temple by the sacrifice of 120,000 sheep.

The Sheep is perhaps the most important of all the animals in the Scriptures. It formed the chief portion of the wealth of the patriarchs, and it is not merely as an article of food that its value is to be estimated. The clothing of those days was almost entirely made of wool; cotton, silk and flax being hardly known or quite out of reach until a later period. The number of flocks was the chief measure of property. Tillage was, comparatively speaking, but little resorted to in Palestine, and there was only very local or in most places no possession in land. Hence sheep were of primary value; and from its nature the country was, and is still, better adapted to the rearing and feeding of sheep than other domestic animals.

Source- Hart, H. C. (1888). The Animals Mentioned in the Bible (pp. 193–194). London: The Religious Tract Society.

Interesting! How about the beloved 23rd Psalm-

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.

4Even 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.

5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Here is Matthew Henry Commentary on the famous first line of the Psalm, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.’

Confidence in God’s grace and care. – “The Lord is my shepherd.” In these words, the believer is taught to express his satisfaction in the care of the great Pastor of the universe, the Redeemer and Preserver of men. With joy he reflects that he has a shepherd, and that shepherd is Jehovah.

A flock of sheep, gentle and harmless, feeding in verdant pastures, under the care of a skilful, watchful, and tender shepherd, forms an emblem of believers brought back to the Shepherd of their souls. The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes in it only what pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who by faith tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture.

The Lord gives quiet and contentment in the mind, whatever the lot is. Are we blessed with the green pastures of the ordinances, let us not think it enough to pass through them, but let us abide in them. The consolations of the Holy Spirit are the still waters by which the saints are led; the streams which flow from the Fountain of living waters. Those only are led by the still waters of comfort, who walk in the paths of righteousness.

Do you have confidence in God’s grace and care? Do you have quiet contentment of the mind, knowing the Great Shepherd would not only lay down His life for the sheep, but He has done it? Are you consoled by the knowledge that His protection is mighty and everlasting? That His pastures remain green? That the waters are always living and fresh?

We are blessed with good care. Though we stray, the Good Shepherd brings the lost sheep home. This is the ultimate blessing, forgiveness of our many sins, and promise of eternal joy.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:3)

As Jonathan Edwards said in his “Farewell Sermon“,

Whoever may hereafter stand related to you as your spiritual guide, my desire and prayer is that the great Shepherd of the sheep would have a special respect to you, and be your guide (for there is none teacheth like him), and that he who is the infinite fountain of light, would “open your eyes, and turn you from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God; that you may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified, through faith that is in Christ;” that so in that great day, when I shall meet you again before your Judge and mine, we may meet in joyful and glorious circumstances, never to be separated any more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Idolatry Challenge: Lessons from Psalm 115

Posted on October 6, 2025October 6, 2025 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I discuss Psalm 115 using Charles Spurgeon’s commentary, The Treasury of David. I focus on the Psalm’s theme of God’s glory versus heathen idols. The Psalm underscores a fervent plea for God to receive glory amidst hardship. Modern idolatry can encompass things like money, social media, and a host of other personal idols. They all detract from God’s glory. I urge reflection on true devotion.

Continue reading →

theology

In the gloaming

Posted on March 12, 2024 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Words are interesting. I like the word ‘gloaming’. It’s a more romantic and atmospheric word than just ‘dusk’ or even ‘twilight’.

Merriam Webster says of gloaming: “Originally used in Scottish dialects of English, the word traces back to the Old English glōm, meaning “twilight,” which shares an ancestor with the Old English glōwan, meaning “to glow.” In the early 1800s, English speakers looked to Scotland again and borrowed the now-archaic verb gloam, meaning “to become dusk” or “to grow dark.” Source Merriam Webster.

A less academic and more poetic treatment of the word, which is a weather word after all, comes from weather.com:

Gloaming stems from the Old English glōmung, which itself is a derivative of glōm, which means “twilight or darkness.” Dictionary.com notes that gloaming comes from the same root as glōwan, a verb that means “to glow like a coal or fire.” So, while twilight literally means “second light” or “half light,” and emphasizes the light itself, when you use gloaming, it stresses the way the landscape is glowing, the way it looks strangely alive, rather than the light itself.

I went outside at sunset because I heard ducks. Aa bunch of them were waddling toward the pond across the street. What I saw when I looked up to the sky was amazing. A storm front was moving through with boiling clouds scudding from west to east. But they looked like mountains. The scene was of mountains marching to the sea, a stately, purposeful a march with the light behind them changing by the second. The gloaming light tinged the edges of the clouds with gold and silver. They glowed. I was mesmerized.

The light changed from orange to pink to red to yellow moment by moment. The mountainous clouds slid by as if on skates, gliding in a regal progression too majestic to notice mere tiny humans. The photos don’t nearly capture it.

Did you ever wonder why God chose to reveal Himself in words? He could have done so in pictures or in other ways our limited human brains can’t even fathom. But He chose words.

He created worlds, the stars, and us. He set the sun in its course to rise and set, and have it paint the sky while it was rising and setting. He chose color in the world.

My own words aren’t poetic enough to reach the heights of elegance that the clouds and sun and sky reached as I viewed their magnificent display. But God’s mind is such that He chose to give us words. One of them is gloaming. And He chose to give us beauty in the world. God gave me a demonstration of beauty in the gloaming I would not soon forget.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have set in place;
4What is man that You think of him,
And a son of man that You are concerned about him?
(Psalm 8:3-4)

encouragement, theology

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

Posted on February 3, 2024 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

In Psalm 51, David famously wrote-

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
(Psalm 51:10-13)

His is a magnificent statement of repentance. No wonder God called David a man after His own heart. (Acts 13:22).

You notice that David’s contrition and petition for restoration didn’t include restoring a kingdom to him, or his fortress or his armor or his lands. He did not ask for material things. He wanted the ‘joy of God’s salvation’ – spiritual things. David wanted the spiritual joy of a right relationship with His God.

I often ponder the joy of my salvation. I don’t want to lose that wonder and awe of the miracle of a purified mind and a clean heart. Maybe it’s because I came to the Lord in my 40s, and I remember so well the feeling of moral confusion, impurity, and guilt. One thing I enjoy about salvation is the release of my mind from having to work so hard to justify my sin. Or the efforts of my heart to hide it. Or the difficulty in having my conscience making valiant efforts to tamp down the morally questionable things I said and did.

A willing spirit that finds joy in knowing and obeying our Savior is a release that can only come from Jesus. It’s a gift to us, borne on His blood and His cross. In gratitude, David said he would teach others the ways of God so that sinners would be converted. He is passing along the gift he himself thirsts for and treasures.

theology

Waiting

Posted on June 8, 2023June 8, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

A friend and I met for Bible discussion. She was in Psalm 130 and asked, what was the Psalmist waiting for? What does ‘wait’ mean here, and how is waiting tied in with trust?

I hope for Yahweh, my soul does hope,
And for His word do I wait.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning,
The watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6

We talked about who in the Bible waited. And we talked about who waited well or poorly. The first person that came to mind was Sarah. The LORD had told them that they would have a child. Decades went by. No baby. Sarah pushed Hagar onto Abraham. Oops.

Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel. He was so faithful in his long aged wait and so eager, he was even given the promise of not passing away until he saw it with his own eyes.

Hannah waited and waited for a baby. She waited well, and we discussed her prayer that shows us women these many thousands of years later, how well she waited.

So, those were a few who waited for a promise to be fulfilled, or an answer to prayer. But, what does the Psalmist mean exactly about waiting? What was the psalmist waiting for? Is what he meant a promise or an answer to prayer? I turned to Matthew Henry’s Whole Commentary on the Bible for this one-

The psalmist engages himself to trust in God and to wait for him, v. 5, 6. Observe, 1. His dependence upon God, expressed in a climax, it being a song of degrees, or ascents: “I wait for the Lord; from him I expect relief and comfort, believing it will come, longing till it does come, but patiently bearing the delay of it, and resolving to look for it from no other hand. My soul doth wait; I wait for him in sincerity, and not in profession only. I am an expectant, and it is for the Lord that my soul waits, for the gifts of his grace and the operations of his power.”

After we finished our coffee over Bibles and laughed and talked a good while, I headed home with the thoughts of waiting still on my mind. I pondered the question, ‘Which person in the Bible waited best?’

It came to me. I know who displayed infinite patience in the wait and perfect trust while doing so.

Jesus.

Before time began, the Father said He’d gift His Son with a bride. An intra-Trinitarian council was held and the three members of the Trinity discussed redeeming humanity. This occurred before the world was made and prior to any humans having been created or born. (Ephesians 1:4-6; Psalm 2:7).

How long ago was that? We do not know. Long, long ago.

And then history began, the garden, the Fall, the long era of promise of redemption. Redemption came to earth, and He is still building His bride soul by soul. Thousands of years. Jesus was promised a redeemed humanity for His very own, and He is still waiting.

He incarnated and did the work the Father gave Him to do. He performed it perfectly and patiently. He died, rose again, and ascended. Jesus is still waiting for the bridal party to be complete, and is waiting for His Father to say “SON, GO GET YOUR BRIDE!”

John MacArthur said:

Why would God do that? Because he loves the Son and the 17th chapter of John, as we’ll see later, the Son celebrates the mutual love that he has with the Father, and love gives, and the Father determines in his eternal love within the Trinity that he will express his love for the Son by giving the Son a gift, and that gift, essentially, is going to be a redeemed humanity. If you will, he gives his Son a bride.

In the ancient world, fathers chose the brides for their sons. That’s the way it was done. Nobody chose for themselves. That was the father’s responsibility. And here you have the divine pattern as God determines that he will choose a bride for his Son. It’s a way that the Father could express his love to his Son. It’s a way he determined to do it, that he would give to his Son a redeemed humanity.

Follow that thought to the 6th chapter of John, a section of scripture that we refer to often in our studies in the Word of God because it’s so foundational. In John 6:37. This is critical. “All that the Father gives me shall come to me.” This is where it has to be understood. Every saved person is a gift from the Father to the Son. The Father determined in eternity past that he would give to the Son a bride, that he would give to the Son a redeemed humanity. The Bible tells us that he actually wrote their names down in the Lamb’s Book of Life knowing that even before the foundation of the world, the Lamb would have to be slain to pay the price for that redemption. —End MacArthur

Jesus is patient as He waits for the promise of a Bride for Him to be fulfilled, and He trusts His Father perfectly as he waits. He knows that all who are promised to Him will be given to him, as John 6 says.

What a day that will be when God sends His Son to scoop up His Bride and as one body, we ascend to heaven to celebrate with the Lamb at His supper. (Revelation 19:9).

Jesus is always our best model for anything and everything. Who waited longest and best? Jesus. Who trusted most faithfully in the waiting? Jesus.

He is the Alpha and the Omega.

Further Resources

Charles Spurgeon wrote an exposition of every Psalm. It’s called The Treasury of David, and it’s online in several places, like here, and here

Phil Johnson preaches on Psalms, and very well, too.

Scott Aniol of G3 Ministries recently wrote a book on the music of God (Psalms). It’s called Musing on God’s Music. Here is a discussion about the book: Honest Conversations in Black and White Episode 6

encouragement, theology

Psalm 29: Praise and glory to the Highest!

Posted on April 16, 2023 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Enjoy this Psalm 29. As the MacArthur Commentary explains, it has the earmarks of earliest Hebrew poetry. Its general form is a hymn, proclaiming 3 representative realities of God as supreme and therefore praise belongs to Him alone:

1. Lord’s supremacy over heavenly beings
2. Lord’s supremacy over the “forces of nature” (references pagan gods)
3. Lord’s supremacy over humanity

It builds and in my opinion is a majestic and breathtaking poem/hymn. Happy Lord’s Day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ascribe to the LORD Glory

A Psalm of David.
1Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,a
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over many waters.
4The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!

praise verse

prophecy, theology

Will you be trembling, or rejoicing?

Posted on June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

In Psalm 96:11-12 we read of the creation rejoicing,

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

Creation is glad, rejoices, roars, exults, and sings!

One Psalm later in Psalm 97:2-5 we read, Continue reading “Will you be trembling, or rejoicing?” →

encouragement, theology

Cast your cares upon Him; He can handle it

Posted on August 15, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

We’re all going through something. We all have burdens, griefs, and issues to deal with. If not at this moment, we might be coming out of one or going into one. The Lord said that in this life we would have trouble. (Jon 16:33).

He cares for us and will be with us every step of the way. He said to cast our cares to Him.

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)

Believe it!

Still not sure?

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Really!

Think of it this way. There are 8 billion people alive on earth today. Of those, how many Christians are there in the world at any given moment? Millions? Hundreds of millions? Since Jesus calls us to cast our cares upon Him, and there are hundreds of millions of Christians doing just that each day, it’s a gigantic pile of cares. He handles it. In the face of all that, he can handle your checkbook. Your mother’s cancer. Your daughter’s shoplifting. Your husband’s grumpiness. Your job search. He can handle it, and He does.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37:5)

cast your cares verse

encouragement, theology

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

Posted on June 1, 2019February 3, 2024 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

In Psalm 51, David famously wrote-

His is a magnificent statement of repentance. No wonder God called David a man after His own heart. (Acts 13:22).

encouragement, theology

Psalm 29: Praise and glory to the Highest!

Posted on May 12, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

1. Lord’s supremacy over heavenly beings
2. Lord’s supremacy over the “forces of nature” (references pagan gods)
3. Lord’s supremacy over humanity

It builds and in my opinion is a majestic and breathtaking poem/hymn. Happy Lord’s Day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ascribe to the LORD Glory

A Psalm of David.
1Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,a
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

3The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over many waters.
4The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!

praise verse