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The LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],

I shall not want.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.

He refreshes and restores my soul (life);

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. (Psalm 23:1-4) It does more than tell us that God protects, guides, and blesses. It shows us of powerless sheep being tended by an unfailingly careful shepherd.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). The relationship of believers with Jesus Christ is that of sheep to a shepherd. I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]. (John 10:14) The Lord is our shepherd; we are his flock. The message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone is a constant reminder of man's inability to save himself. It is a message that Jesus Christ alone is able to make atonement for our sins. It is the message that there is only one way of salvation.

I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become one flock with one Shepherd. (John 10:16) John 10, the sheep Jesus is talking to are Jewish sheep, and the sheep not of this sheepfold are the Gentile sheep, and Jesus will bring both flocks together into one sheepfold, the fold of Jesus Christ, the church. Sheep are the followers of Christ, while goats chose not to follow Christ, based on the differences in behavior between us is we share a bond of unity through our faith and our covenant. Jesus the shepherd separating his sheep from his goats to explain what judgment will be like. On the last day, there will be a separation of people. Those who have placed their faith in God, and done the things he cares about, will join him in heaven. What distinguishes the sheep from the goats is the acceptance or rejection of Jesus' message. The sheep will sit on God's right hand (and find salvation), and the goats (the hard-hearted) will sit on the left (and be sent to damnation). But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection]. (Matthew 25 31-33)