A Shepherd's Insight into Biblical Passages
A wonderful book that will bless your life is The Shepherd Trilogy by Phillip Keller. Even though this is called a trilogy, the three books are not fictional stories. Published by Zondervan, the volume consists of the following three books: A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm, A Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd, and A Shepherd Looks at the Lamb of God.
Phillip Keller was a shepherd for many years. This gave him a unique perspective in interpreting the Biblical passages in the three books. He uses his experiences as a shepherd to illustrate the spiritual truths.
The first book examines Psalm 23, which was written from the perspective of a sheep. It follows the life of a sheep for the entire year, and the sheep boasts that the Lord (Jesus) is his shepherd. Phillip Keller describes everything that a shepherd does to take care of his sheep, including preparing pastures that are free of toxic plants, providing clean water for the sheep, defending them from predators, searching for lost sheep, and using ointments and dips to protect against annoying and harmful insects. He compares these things to how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, cares for His people.
The second book examines John 10. Phillip Keller discusses a sheepfold and how Jesus is the only one who has the right to manage our lives. There is an intimate relationship between sheep and their shepherd. Sheep will not follow a stranger’s voice. They require so much care that a good shepherd will invest his whole life in his sheep to make sure they are healthy and safe, literally and figuratively laying down his life for his sheep.
The third book looks at several biblical passages that involve a lamb sacrificed for sin, including the lamb sacrificed to provide clothes for Adam and Eve, Abel’s sacrifice that was accepted by God, Abraham’s test of sacrificing his son Isaac, and the Passover lamb. Mr. Keller also looks at Isaiah 53 about the suffering servant who was slain for the sins of the whole world. Finally, the author looks at Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died on the cross for us.
I like Phillip Keller’s writing style, and it is fun learning about all the things a shepherd must do to properly care for his sheep. It is a good reminder of how much Jesus, my Good Shepherd, does for me. Bless His Holy Name!
Phillip Keller wrote many books, including Lessons from a Sheep Dog, A Layman Looks at the Lord’s Prayer, A Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit, What Makes Life Worth Living, Walking with God, His Way to Pray, and What is the Father Like? He also wrote books studying the lives of Joshua, David, and Elijah. I recommend his books to anyone wanting to be blessed and grow in their spiritual walk.
The Shepherd Trilogy can be purchased from the following online retailers: