I was asked today what animal would most represent me. I answered: a deer. Why? It is flighty, easily spooked, and a bit skid-dish. I thought it described me well, that is until I began to look at some passages about the Good Shepherd and the sheep. I have corrected my thinking a bit. I am most like a sheep!
Sheep are spooked easily. They are runners. They flee from danger. When they sense fear, they run off in all directions. They are by nature a flock animal. They become stressed if they cannot see other sheep nearby or are isolated. Sheep are followers. They are "hard-wired" from birth to follow. Sheep will follow the herd to their own demise without thinking about it. Sheep have little ability to defend themselves. They can die from panic itself. They are prone to disease and parasites. Both internal and external parasites are common in sheep. Many are fatal to the sheep itself or the reproduction of the flock.
All of us had wandered off like sheep;
each of us had strayed off on his own path,
but the Lord caused the sin of all of us to attack him.
Isaiah 53:6
Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will continually thank you.
We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.
Psalm 79:13
The Bible is filled with the imagery of sheep and their shepherd. We are called His sheep many times. Why? In those days in the Middle East, sheep herding was a very common vocation. Sheep were very important to the economy and there were many of them. The patriarchs were all shepherds. I did not know this until today! Why wouldn't God use an illustration that would directly apply to their lives? I love how He uses things we recognize and are familiar with to teach us about Himself. Unfortunately in the passage of time, and in a culture distanced from this lifestyle, some of the meaning can be lost. If we are like sheep, and God is like a shepherd, then there is reason to look into this whole herding thing a little deeper.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing.
He takes me to lush pastures,
he leads me to refreshing water.
He restores my strength.
He leads me down the right paths
for the sake of his reputation.
Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff reassure me.
You prepare a feast before me
in plain sight of my enemies.
You refresh my head with oil;
my cup is completely full.
Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days,
and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.
Psalm 23:1-6
Shepherds are important to the flock. They would provide everything that the sheep would need. Sheep must be lead to food, so the shepherd finds lush pastures. Sheep get startled by moving water, so a shepherd would lead them to pools of still water. Often the path to a pasture would be between farm lands where sheep were forbidden to eat. The shepherd had to lead them carefully from one place to another. Often the shepherd would lead and a heifer would take up the rear to lead them through the narrow paths.
Yet do not depart quickly
or leave in a panic.
For the Lord goes before you;
the God of Israel is your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:12
I love this image of the Lord being not only the shepherd that leads us, but God is also the one who takes up the rear. He goes before and behind us! What protection! What security! I should not to panic like a sheep who finds himself alone, instead I should listen and look for my shepherd who is undoubtedly seeking me.
A shepherd would also carry the weak and young lambs as the flock moves from one place to another. Those who weren't able to keep up with the rest because they were too weak, sick, or small would have the privileged of riding in the shepherds arms close to his chest.
Like a shepherd he tends his flock;
he gathers up the lambs with his arm;
he carries them close to his heart;
he leads the ewes along.
he gathers up the lambs with his arm;
he carries them close to his heart;
he leads the ewes along.
Isaiah 40:11
Sheep are prone to get different diseases, but their most common threat is parasites both external and internal. Sheep do not show signs of illness outwardly and have to be tended to with great care and attention in order to keep the flock healthy. Shepherds care for the wounded, sickly, and weak among the flock. The most commonly used medicine in Bible times would have been olive oil. In fact there is a parasite that lives within their sinus cavities that is only treatable with oil! I love the phrase in Psalm 23: "You refresh my head with oil." God tends to our wounds. He heals us from the inside out. Think of all the internal and external "parasites" that we are faced with. It is such a comfort to know that the Good Shepherd is working on keeping me healthy by getting rid of those thing. He is protecting me and applying medicine to my wounds. Wonderful.....
He heals the brokenhearted,
and bandages their wounds.
Psalms 147:3
“I tell you the solemn truth, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not recognize the stranger’s voice.” Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus said to them again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away. “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me– because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”
John 10:1-18
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them
eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch
them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
John 10:27-30
A good shepherd did not only care for the physical needs of the sheep. He had a tender affection for each one. To this day, shepherds still give each sheep a name.They each have a special call that their sheep know. The sheep know their shepherd's voice and face. Shepherds know their flocks well. They can identify their sheep with ease and know without counting that one is missing. They pursue the missing one to restore it to the flock. What a wonderful picture of my Lord!
I have wandered off like a lost sheep.
Come looking for your servant,
for I do not forget your commands.
Psalm 119:176
Sadly, there are times when this is a description of me. I am so thankful to have a better understanding of what a shepherd does. I love reading stories about shepherds and learning their history because it helps me to understand my own Good Shepherd better. I so long to be in His fold. I am more thankful than ever for His hand of protection and guidance. The visual image of the shepherd carrying the weak is so precious to me.
For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to
the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25
The Word of God uses rod and staff many times to depict God's guidance and discipline. A shepherd would carry a staff with him as he tended the sheep. The staff was made of wood and usually had a crook in one end that could be used to hook the sheep around a leg or the neck. He could use this to rescue them from peril or to guide them back onto the path. The rod was the long part of the staff which was used to protect the sheep. There was often nails embedded into the end which would be used as a weapon against predators. As the sheep entered the fold, they would pass under the staff.
Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff reassure me.
Psalm 23:4
I find it interesting that Moses was to carry a staff as he led the people out of Israel. What a neat picture of our Savior. He led them through the wilderness and gave them food, water, and protection. He guided them with the pillar of fire and smoke. He led them through the narrow paths and dark valleys. The whole time leading them with a man who carried a staff. So neat.
Yet he brought out his people like sheep;
he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
Psalm 78:52
For this is what the sovereign Lord says: "Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day. I will bring them out from among the peoples and gather them from foreign countries; I will bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams and all the inhabited places of the land. In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel. I myself will feed my sheep and I myself will make them lie down, declares the sovereign Lord. I will seek the lost and bring back the strays; I will bandage the injured and strengthen the sick..."
Ezekiel 34:11-16
I am aware that this passage has nothing to do with me. I am not part of Israel, but I do have the same God. He is the same today as He was then. Seeing His compassion and care for the nation of Israel is so precious. This is my God. I love to read about how much He loves His people. I know He loves me this way too. Scripture is clear...
So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders,rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them,‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’ tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.
Luke 15:3-7
Oh how much He loves each and every one of us. Look at the joy that He had the day I was saved. Look at the joy He has when I realize I am wandering and repenting I turn to my Shepherd!
Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought
back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, equip
you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before
him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat, because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelations 7:16-17
Sources:
www.Wikepedia.com
www.Sheep101.info
www.bible-history.com
www.netbible.org
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