神是信实的牧者
在上古时代，做牧羊人不是人们向往的职业选择。牧羊的生涯是忙碌、充满危险和压力，更不用说羊并不是神创造中最聪明的生物了。
尽管如此，牧羊人的生活和行事韵律却很突出。在诗篇23篇中，我们读到牧羊人的杖和竿，牧羊人极需要它们来完成各种差事。“杖”（就像一根木棒）是用来驱逐猎取羊儿作为食物的敌人，而“竿”乃是牧羊人在路上用来引领和提醒羊群跟着他走的工具。当走过有悬崖的崎岖山地时，牧羊人会走在羊群的旁边，以竿作为护栏，好叫羊儿不会失脚和跌倒。在早晨或傍晚，没有阳光的阴暗旅途中，牧羊人会用杖拍打石墙来发出响声，这声音引发的回响，从前面的羊群一直传到后面。这是为了要提醒牠们，牧羊人仍在那里，保证牠们一定平安稳妥。
圣经也时常以羊来比喻我们，形容耶和华是我们信实的牧者，在祂的恩典和慈爱中，祂以杖和竿引导我们，又温柔地提醒我们，在祂看顾之下，我们一定平安稳妥。
伟大的牧者，感谢祢天天以各种方式供应我们的需要。在祢安全地引导和带领我们时，求祢帮助我们专心聆听祢的呼唤。阿们。
诗篇 23篇
1 耶和华是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。
2他使我躺卧在青草地上，领我在可安歇的水边。
3他使我的灵魂苏醒，为自己的名引导我走义路。
4我虽然行过死荫的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因为你与我同在，你的杖、你的竿都安慰我。
5在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席，你用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。
6我一生一世必有恩惠、慈爱随着我，我且要住在耶和华的殿中，直到永远。
God, the faithful Shepherd
"Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4
Being a shepherd in ancient times was not a glamorous career choice. It was a hectic life, full of danger and stress, not to mention that sheep are not the most intelligent of God's creatures.
Even so, the life and rhythm of a shepherd were remarkable. In Psalm 23, for example, we read about the shepherd's rod and staff. These were very necessary pieces of equipment for the shepherd's many tasks. The rod (like a club) was used to fend off predators, and the staff was used as a guide and reminder to the sheep along the trail. When traveling through a hilly region with steep drop-offs, the shepherd would walk alongside the sheep, using the staff as a guardrail so that they wouldn't stumble and fall. And during early-morning or late-evening trips, when the sunlight was gone and the path was dark, the shepherd would tap his rod against the face of a rock wall, producing a sound that would echo from the front of the flock all the way to the back. It was a way to remind the sheep that the shepherd was still there, assuring them that they were safe and secure.
The Bible often compares us with sheep, describing the Lord as our faithful shepherd, who by his grace and compassion guides us with this rod and staff, gently reminding us that we are safe and secure in his care.
Great Shepherd, thank you for all the ways you provide for us each day. Help us to be attentive and to hear you calling us as you safely guide and lead us. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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