I was challenged by a friend on Facebook to write a review of this book when I finished with it, so here goes!
It was not too long ago that I saw this book mentioned by a friend, which sparked my initial interest. While at the Church Planters Conference at HBBC in OKC a few weeks back, one of the speakers mentioned this book from the platform. With two mentions in a few short weeks, This readers interest was peaked enough to look for the book. What a joy to find it on the church shelf in my office!
The book itself is not a large volume, containing 142 pages of around size 14 font in a hardback cover that was printed by Zondervan in 1977. The dust on the book is probably from the 90's! I immediately dropped it in my bag and pulled it out when I finished the book that I had been currently reading. From that time, it took me about 6 hours over 3 days to absorb the amazing content of this book.
That leads me to the content of the book. The author, Phillip Keller, give awesome insight into the most familiar passage in all the Bible, the 23rd Psalm. This insight comes from his experiences as a shepherd and his observances of other shepherds as he was growing up abroad. Even though the author dialogues phrase by phrase through the passage, I would not call it a commentary. He presents the Psalm from the eyes of the sheep in the fold and their relationship to a good shepherd.
Personally, as I look over the chapter titles, my mind goes to chapter 3, "He Maketh Me to Lie Down in Green Pastures," and I am reminded of the plentiful pastures of our Chief Shepherd that leads to satisfaction and rest in this Christian life. Chapter 8 had me checking my friends list to see if I knew anyone in Africa that could send me a knob-kerrie! The "table" that is spread in chapter 9 and the oil of chapter 10 are especially a blessing as we see the care of the Shepherd during the summer travel through the valley to the lush grazing lands.
When I approached this book, I was looking for a manual for pastoring the church that God has given me the care of. Even though there were many things that I will take away for this purpose, reading this book has driven me to an even greater love for my Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Seeing all that He goes through to provide for me each step of the way has brought me to the realization that the greatest thing that I can do for those in my life is to lead them to a closer relationship with the One Who loves us and gave Himself for us. I found myself more identifying with the older more influential lambs in the flock of the shepherd than I did with the shepherd. I want to ask myself, what am I doing to lead others to follow the Good Shepherd? Am I resting content in His pastures? Am I doing my part to promote unity and reduce strife in the flock?
Overall, I give this book a 10 and recommend it to all my friends.
It was not too long ago that I saw this book mentioned by a friend, which sparked my initial interest. While at the Church Planters Conference at HBBC in OKC a few weeks back, one of the speakers mentioned this book from the platform. With two mentions in a few short weeks, This readers interest was peaked enough to look for the book. What a joy to find it on the church shelf in my office!
The book itself is not a large volume, containing 142 pages of around size 14 font in a hardback cover that was printed by Zondervan in 1977. The dust on the book is probably from the 90's! I immediately dropped it in my bag and pulled it out when I finished the book that I had been currently reading. From that time, it took me about 6 hours over 3 days to absorb the amazing content of this book.
That leads me to the content of the book. The author, Phillip Keller, give awesome insight into the most familiar passage in all the Bible, the 23rd Psalm. This insight comes from his experiences as a shepherd and his observances of other shepherds as he was growing up abroad. Even though the author dialogues phrase by phrase through the passage, I would not call it a commentary. He presents the Psalm from the eyes of the sheep in the fold and their relationship to a good shepherd.
Personally, as I look over the chapter titles, my mind goes to chapter 3, "He Maketh Me to Lie Down in Green Pastures," and I am reminded of the plentiful pastures of our Chief Shepherd that leads to satisfaction and rest in this Christian life. Chapter 8 had me checking my friends list to see if I knew anyone in Africa that could send me a knob-kerrie! The "table" that is spread in chapter 9 and the oil of chapter 10 are especially a blessing as we see the care of the Shepherd during the summer travel through the valley to the lush grazing lands.
When I approached this book, I was looking for a manual for pastoring the church that God has given me the care of. Even though there were many things that I will take away for this purpose, reading this book has driven me to an even greater love for my Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Seeing all that He goes through to provide for me each step of the way has brought me to the realization that the greatest thing that I can do for those in my life is to lead them to a closer relationship with the One Who loves us and gave Himself for us. I found myself more identifying with the older more influential lambs in the flock of the shepherd than I did with the shepherd. I want to ask myself, what am I doing to lead others to follow the Good Shepherd? Am I resting content in His pastures? Am I doing my part to promote unity and reduce strife in the flock?
Overall, I give this book a 10 and recommend it to all my friends.