The Psalms do a beautiful job of teaching us that we can seek God with our whole heart and we can tell Him the truth all the time about everything. David does this in this Messianic Psalm 41.

4 O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
6 They visit me as if they were my friends,
but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
7 All who hate me whisper about me,
imagining the worst.
8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say.
“He will never get out of that bed!”
9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
Psalm 41:4-9 NLT

Dear shepherd leader, you may be hurting because of the pain of betrayal but let this psalm be a reminder and an encouragement that David also lived through betrayal as did our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord and Savior has experienced everything that we have experienced and because He knows our pain let us take comfort in His mercy and grace. He loves us and delights in us.

In Psalm 41 David shares his confidence in the Father that He would rescue him during a time that David was sick and was unable to reign as he wanted to. David was also betrayed by one of his most trusted advisors, Ahithophel, when his son, Absalom took advantage of the situation and led a rebellion against his father.

1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health.
Psalm 41:1-3 NLT

Dear shepherd leader, picture the mighty and powerful God of the universe also as our sweet shepherd, nursing us when we are ill, in trouble, or in need. Let these first three verses of Psalm 41 give comfort, hope, and confidence like David had and be reminded to treat others as our Chief Shepherd does, providing, protecting, and being present to those we lead.

In Psalm 40 David looks both backward and forward as he considers his need for God. He speaks about what God has done in his life and how faithful God is. David has confidence in the future because he knows all that God has done for him in the past.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

Dear shepherd leader, think back on what God has done in your life, the many wonderful things He has done for you and how this is proof that He will be at work in you continually. As David reminds us, we must wait patiently on the Lord for He is faithful and true.

In Psalm 39 David is greatly lamenting his sin and asking for forgiveness and healing. In the first three verses we read David's resolve for self control followed by a prayer for understanding and perspective. Finally, a request for mercy and relief in the final verses of this psalm.

4 “O Lord, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
Selah
Psalm 39:4-5 ESV

Take a few moments to think over what David has written in this psalm. As you reflect on your life how would you say you are doing with living into your calling providing provision, protection, and presence for the sheep in your life?

Dear shepherd leader, wherever we are in life may we strive to say we have lived for the Father and we have shepherded well.

In Psalm 38 David was asking God to begin to act on his behalf and meet his needs. David had sinned greatly and he wanted God to remember him, grant forgiveness, and healing.

15 Lord, the only thing I can do is wait and put my hope in you.
I wait for your help, my God.
16 So hear my cry and put an end to their strutting in pride,
to those who gloat when I stumble in pain.
17 I’m slipping away and on the verge of a breakdown,
with nothing but sorrow and sighing.[b]
18 I confess all my sin to you; I can’t hold it in any longer.
My agonizing thoughts punish me for my wrongdoing;
I feel condemned as I consider all I’ve done.
19 My enemies are many.
They hate me and persecute me,
though I’ve done nothing against them to deserve it.
20 I show goodness to them and get paid evil in return.
And they hate me even more when I stand for what is right.
21 So don’t forsake me now, Lord!
Don’t leave me in this condition.
22 God, hurry to help me. Run to my rescue!
For you’re my Savior and my only hope!
Psalm 38:15-22 TPT

Dear shepherd leader, if you are in a situation where the sin of others have caused you great pain or if your own sin has caused great pain cling to this psalm and put your hope in God. He is faithful.

In this final part of Psalm 37 David continues to show us the different ways God deals with the righteous and the wicked, to wait on the Lord and keep His ways.

32 The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
Psalm 37:32-40 ESV

Dear shepherd leader, take a moment and go back and read Psalm 37 again. This impactful psalm or song that is full of wisdom and promises.

May we be challenged to wait on God and to be still. To trust Him and do good. To commit our ways to Him because the Father can be trusted. He gives counsel to the wise and He rewards and blesses the righteous.

This third part of Psalm 37 continues to show us that God understands our situation, blesses His people, and judges the wicked. Remember, this psalm by David is written in a Hebrew acrostic with each verse beginning with a Hebrew letter--this helps us to remember what David has written.

In verses 21-31 we're reminded of what our Father does for us.

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord[c] shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.

Psalm 37:21-31 ESV

In these ten verses David tells us that in all of his life he has never seen the righteous forsaken. Dear shepherd leader, let us remember this beautiful reward for the righteous, the beautiful blessing that He gives His people. May we be encouraged to follow Him in everything we do and every decision we make. May this encourage us to live deeply into our calling.

This second part of Psalm 37 continues to show us that God understands our situation, blesses His people, and judges the wicked. Remember this psalm by David is written in a Hebrew acrostic with each verse beginning with a Hebrew letter. This helps us to remember what David has written.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

Psalm 37:12-20 ESV

In this psalm we are told what we are to do and not do. It also tell us what God will do. Shepherd leader, let the words from Psalm 37 continue to encourage you as David reminds us of what God is doing for us.

This first portion of Psalm 37 is full of wisdom of how God understands our situation, blesses His people, and judges the wicked. These verses show how God takes almost everything we know and turns it upside down by doing the opposite of what we think we should do.

This psalm by David is written in a Hebrew acrostic with each verse beginning with a Hebrew letter. This helps the reader remember what David has written.

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[b]
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Psalm 37:1-11 ESV

Shepherd leader, let us sit back and watch the Good Shepherd work. The temptation sometimes is to get ahead of God in situations that we encounter and not wait patiently on Him. However, let us trust Him absolutely and fully in all that He is doing.

Psalm 36 is a reminder of who David serves and whom he follows. This can be a good reminder for us as well.

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O Lord.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Psalm 36 ESV

Shepherd leader, let us love and honor the Good Shepherd for His steadfast love, faithfulness, His righteousness, and for how He gives us all that we need especially as we act as the shield of provision, protection, and presence for those we impact and influence.