Tablelands are broad, high, level plateaus that usually hold the best grazing land for sheep. Though the tablelands can be remote and hard to reach, they are very much sought after by shepherds and sheep alike.
Author Philip Keller says a good shepherd “will go ahead and make preliminary survey trips into this rough, wild country. He will look it over with great care, keeping in mind its best use for his flock during the coming season…He will check to see if there are poisonous weeds appearing, and if so, he will plan his grazing program to avoid them or take drastic steps to eradicate them.”
I really doubt that sheep grazing safely on the tablelands realize all the work that preceded their safely grazing there. But the Shepherd does, and he’ll do it again because he loves the sheep…more than they’ll ever know.
Your Shepherd proved his incredible love by going to hell and back to bring you into his flock. That same shepherd has gone into any and every situation that you might encounter. He has prepared it for you and you for it. In fact, there is no situation that you will face that your Shepherd hasn’t prepared you for.
Is your marriage on the rocks? Are you feeling down? Is your job hanging by a thread? Are you at odds with someone? Is your loved one ill? Don’t worry little lamb, your tender Shepherd has already been there, and he will walk you through it, guiding with his Word and feeding you with his promises. It’s what your Shepherd does because he loves you…more than you know.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. - Psalm 23:5a
