Do you know this shepherd?
There is a story I was told a long time ago about a priest.
It is his 50th anniversary of his priestly Ordination. He invited many if not all of his friends to celebrate this milestone and God's faithfulness with him. Many honored this invitation including his very good friend Richard Burton.
In the course of the celebration he called Richard up to recite Psalms 23 which is his favourite bible chapter. When Richard came up, he said he is not reciting unless the priest friend will also do so after he is done.
He approached the stage, picked the microphone and with is commanding oratorical mastery he voiced out the psalm and his voice echoed the around the hall. The congregation hail his mastery of words.
Then, the priest mounted the stage and from a heart, and mind filled with the spirit of God he sang his beloved psalm. He has nailed it down to a song to be able to remember it's lines well because he isn't too good in recitation.
The crowd was touched by the insight of this psalm as if it was the first time there are coming across the psalm. No one clapped for him but they burst into cry and prayers.
After this session, someone close to Richard's seat asked him, "why was the atmosphere so different when the priest picked up the microphone?"
Richard replied, "He (the priest) knows the shepherd but I knows the psalm."