There’s No Place Like Home

Who is the Lord? - A Series from the Psalms

Psalm 23 - My Shepherd

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NIV;NLT

 

In the 1939 classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy goes on an adventure that takes her far, far away from her home in Kansas to the Land of Oz. While there, she learns that her heart’s desire is to be home in Kansas with the people she loves.

 

By clicking her heals together three times and saying, “There’s no place like home”, the magical shoes miraculously transport her to Kansas; to her home; and to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.

 

The job of a shepherd is to provide, protect and be ever-present for the security and safekeeping of his sheep. David was a shepherd and knew firsthand what this meant. He knew how to use a slingshot to fight off an enemy; he knew how to find a stream or a meadow to feed his sheep; he knew how to guide them along safe paths.

 

⁴ Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.

 

Jesus knew what it meant to be a shepherd too. In fact, Jesus told his followers, “I am the good shepherd”. As David wrote in Psalm 23, Jesus provides, protects and is constantly present with his sheep. He also pursues his sheep with his unfailing love.

 

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.

 

Like Dorothy, the desire of our heart is to go home at the end of each day where we receive nourishment; where we are safe from the dog eat dog world outside; where we are surrounded by the people we love and those who love us.

 

But our true home is when we are “in the house of the Lord”; in the presence of the Living God.




When that happens, it doesn’t require clicking your heals together and saying, “There’s no place like home”. And, you won’t be in Kansas.