In the second half of Psalm 27, David shares the confidence he has in the Good Shepherd. David is patient, brave, and courageous.

7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalm 27:7-14 NLT

At the time of this psalm David's life is in danger. Yet, he is confident of the Lord's goodness and His faithfulness. David places his confidence in God's goodness. He patiently waits and is brave and courageous. Instead of rushing ahead he waits on the Lord.

Faith and patience always go together. Dear shepherd leader are you rushing ahead? Where is your faith right now? Are you fearing or are you trusting? May you continue to trust in the Good Shepherd as you live into your calling.

These powerful verses in this psalm were written before David was anointed king and in them he shares his trust in the Lord.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.
Psalm 27:1-6 NLT

In verse 4 David writes about living in the "House of the Lord" as he focuses on one thing he seeks. Today think about "whittling down" your life. What is important? Where do you focus? How do you live deeply into your calling?

In this psalm David talks to God about his personal righteousness. David was being slandered. He asks God to vindicate his reputation.

6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.
I come to your altar, O Lord,
7 singing a song of thanksgiving
and telling of all your wonders.
8 I love your sanctuary, Lord,
the place where your glorious presence dwells.
Psalm 26:6-8 NLT

Shepherd leader, take a moment and think about Psalm 26. Have you been slandered at any time? Like David came to the Father may we ask Him to also vindicate us, examine us, and redeem us.

Live deeply into your calling this week and may you find hope and peace in the Chief and Great Shepherd.

Psalm 25 is an acrostic. If we were to read this psalm of David's in Hebrew we would see every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In part 2 of this psalm (verses 8-22) David shows us that our God can be trusted and in fact trusting Him brings us victory.

8 The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
9 He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
10 The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
Psalm 25:8-10 NLT

Shepherd leader, we can trust God to be merciful and gracious to all who repent. We must walk in the fear of the Lord. Like David, fear the Lord and be a shepherd after His own heart as you lead, influence, and impact the lives around you.

May you live deeply into our calling today.

Psalm 25 is an acrostic. If we were to read this psalm of David's in Hebrew we would see every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

This psalm shows that life is a difficult journey and we need our Good Shepherd. In part 1 of Psalm 25 we will look at the first 7 verses.

1 O Lord, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.
Psalm 25:1-7 NLT

In verse 1 David says, "I give my life to you." Trusting in our Father completely. Shepherd leader, we cannot do life on our own. Every aspect of our lives can be given to Him.

Let us ask God, like David, to show us the right path, to lead us by His truth, and to teach us. We can also ask our merciful Father to not just remember us when we have failed, but to remember us in the light of His unfailing love.

May this first part of Psalm 25 touch your soul, reach deeply into your spirit, and help you live deeply into your calling today.

David's Psalm 24 is the third in the trilogy of the Shepherd Psalms. In this psalm we see the Chief Shepherd returns in glory to reward His sheep.

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
Psalm 24:1-2 NLT

These 10 verses are broken down into three sections: we are stewards that are to enjoy His goodness in His creation, that we're worshippers who experience His grace and redemption, and we are victors who celebrate His glory in conquest.

May we as shepherd leaders listen and read these 10 verses and think on this psalm. May your heart be blessed as you live deeply into your calling today.

David's Psalm 23 is a well known psalm that most of us can probably quote by memory because we have heard or read it numerous times.

This psalm is the second in the trilogy of the Shepherd Psalms. In this psalm we see the Shepherd in the pasture, in the valley, in the fold and we see Him in the Father's house.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23:1, 6 NLT

David illustrates perfectly the life of a shepherd leader. As you listen to this well known psalm may it have a new meaning for you as a shepherd leader to lead well those you influence and impact. May you live deeply into your calling today.

David's Psalm 22 is often called the Psalm of the Cross. This psalm prophetically speaks about Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, dying for the sheep.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Psalm 22:1-5 NIV

May these thoughts of our Savior, these words, this Messianic song of the prophet David, seep into your soul, your heart, and your bones today. May you live deeply into your calling, shepherd leader.

In the 13 verses of Psalm 21 David speaks in the third person about the day of rejoicing.

1 How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!
He shouts with joy because you give him victory.
2 For you have given him his heart’s desire;
you have withheld nothing he requested. Interlude
Psalm 21:1-2 NLT

Our challenge is, do we rejoice as shepherd leaders as the way David did in Psalm 21? When God gives us the desires of our hearts, do we give him the honor, the praise, and the credit? Let us take time today to reflect on these moments as well as when the Good Shepherd protects us and is present.

In Psalm 20 David speaks of his confidence. Not in himself, but in God.

6 Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
8 Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
Psalm 20:6-8 NLT

David boasted in the name of the Lord our God, "Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king." (verse 6). When we put our trust in the things of this world and not in our God who meets our needs and answers our prayers we begin to run into trouble. Shepherd leader, may we boast in the name of the Lord our God and not in "chariots and horses" as we live into our calling.