Though most of us know very little about sheep, there is little doubt that we know a lot about this psalm. This is certainly the best known and most loved passage in all of scripture. And it speaks to one of our deepest needs... 

1. WE NEED A SHEPHERD 

The fact that we are compared to sheep is not necessarily a compliment to the human condition. No other animal (except the human baby) is as dependent or demands as much on the part of the caregiver as sheep. If they roll over on their backs, they stay there, and they can die. If a dog or wolf comes into the pack, they are utterly defenseless. If they get lost, they are hopeless and helpless. They can eat their way into the briars and hedgerows, simply following their noses until their nubby, wooly coats become tangled in the brush and the…