Committed
AUGUST 21, 2020
By Karen Makishima, Director of Family Life Ministries
Today is my 44th wedding anniversary! That’s right; Kimo and I have been married since 1976.
Some of you may be saying, “Wow, you look too young to be married for 44 years! You must have gotten married when you were sixteen.”
And my answer to that would be, “Yes, that’s correct!”
So now you may be asking yourself, “How did a 16-year old manage to stay married for 44 years?”
Well, Kimo and I were not wise way beyond our years. I attribute our marriage remaining intact to Jesus, Whom the Bible also refers to as the Good Shepherd. Many times Kimo or I had wandered into territory that may not have been healthy for our marriage, but the Lord kept bringing us back to the right path. He knew what was best for us.
We read about this Good Shepherd in Psalm 23 that was written by King David, one of the heroes in the Bible because of his humility, love, faith, and devotion for God. David, who spent many years as a shepherd before becoming king, penned this Psalm, or song of poetry, to share his deep feelings. It is kind of like a diary entry. As with all poetry, this Psalm must be read with the heart as well as the mind. David used the analogy of the Good Shepherd as the Lord, and the sheep as those who follow Him.
PSALM 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
As a shepherd boy, David knew what it was like to take care of sheep that can get into heaps of trouble without a shepherd. You see ....
Sheep lack a sense of direction; they get lost easily. They tend to wander into brooks of rushing water. As they wander in the stream, their thick wool coats absorb the water, and they drown. Sheep tend to be followers, so even if one falls off of a steep cliff, the rest will follow. The sheep desperately needs to hear the voice of the shepherd to stay on the right path.
Sheep cannot find food or water. Left to themselves they will eat poisonous weeds and die.
Sheep are defenseless.
In his book Living the Psalms, Charles Swindoll wrote: “Most animals have a rather effective means of defense–– sharp claws; teeth; speed; ability to hide; keenness of smell, sight and hearing; great strength; ferocity. But sheep are awkward, weak and ignorant; they have spindle legs and tiny hoofs, and are pitifully slow, even devoid of an angry growl. Defenseless! The only sure protection for the sheep is the ever-watchful shepherd.”
When we (the sheep) stay near the shepherd (the Lord) and listen for the sound of His voice, then He will lead us on the right path. This path isn’t void of danger or heartache, but the promise is that the Shepherd will be with us. We will not be alone.
Kimo and I praise God for His ever-watchful care us, His sheep. We are committed to Him and to each other.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for being the Good Shepherd and for desiring us to stay on Your path. Help us to hear Your voice and obey. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
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