Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3

We are his sheep.  That is what the scripture says.  So, I decided that I needed to know a little more about sheep.  Never having lived on (or near) a farm, I had to trust the internet for my information.  It came through for me, with several insightful websites.  I am sure that when these verses were written, no research was needed for their interpretation.  Everyone knew what a sheep was like and how it lived.  Everyone knew the significance of the comparison.  But in our urban society we are not that informed.  So, I will share just a few points of what I learned about sheep.

in need of protection

Sheep are not fighters.  Their instinct is to run when threatened.  They are, however, very aware of their predators.  They do not walk in straight lines when they travel so that they can keep and eye out behind them.  They stay in large groups so that a predator would find it hard to attack.  But they are in need of protection.  They need a shepherd to fight off their attackers and lead them to safety.  Jesus says in Matthew 9:36 that he is aware of our need.  He describes the crowds as sheep without a shepherd.  They were vulnerable to attack, and unable to defend themselves.  But he himself is the one that will protect the sheep.  In John 10:11-15 he says “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep.  So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.  Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.  The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.”  We as sheep need his protection in this world.  And he promises that he will lay his life down for us.

in need of direction

Sheep, I learned, are natural followers.  That may not be bad if the leader is going in the right direction.  But sheep will follow their leader, regardless of if he knows where he is going or not.  In fact, my website said that sheep will follow their leader right off and cliff, if that is where they are led.  But sheep also have excellent hearing.  They can turn their ears in the direction of sound and can hear threats of predators, or recognize the voice of their shepherd.  Again, this was not “new” information when the bible was written.  Isaiah 53:6 says “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…”.  We want to be led.  We are lost and confused.  We need to know that our shepherd is there for us.  And he is.  John 10:27-30 says “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”  He is there for us.  He speaks to us and gives us direction.  We hear  and recognize his voice.  We are loved and protected in his hands.  We have sure direction and security in his care.

in need of a steady hand

Have you ever heard of a “cast” sheep?  I had not until I did my research.  It seems that even though sheep have good eyesight, they have poor depth perception.  This means that when they are on uneven ground, they can easily fall.  If the sheep is covered with heavy wool, he can roll over onto his back and be unable to right himself.  This is a cast sheep.  Immediately his heart will begin to beat wildly, and if he is not rescued in a short amount of time, he can die.  Isn’t this just like us at times?  We find ourselves on uneven ground due to our choices or circumstances, and before we know it we have fallen and have been pulled over onto our backs.  We are helpless to upright ourselves.  We need our shepherd to rescue us and set us on our feet again.  The article I read said that after setting the sheep on his feet again, the shepherd holds the sheep still and steady for a while, before letting his go to walk on his own.  Don’t we desperately need his steady hand in our lives?  Isn’t he kind to hold us still for a while after we have fallen, to make sure we are ready to step out on our own again?  What a good shepherd we have!  Where would we be without him?

make it real

  1. Have you tried to fight your own battles with predators instead of allowing the Good Shepherd to protect you?
  2. Have you listened to any other voice other than your shepherd’s?  Have you found yourself following the wrong sheep in the wrong direction?
  3. Have you lost your footing on the uneven ground of life?  Are you calling for your shepherd to set you right?
  4. Have you thanked your good shepherd for the protection and direction that he offers you?  Are you waiting to follow him and listen only to his voice?

prayer

Jesus, I thank you for being my shepherd.  Thank you that you laid down your life for me and because of that, I can belong to you forever.  Thank you for your tender care and watchful eye in my life.  Thank you that you will always lead me to pleasant pastures to graze.  And thank you that I can always depend on you to help me when I stumble and fall in the difficult times in my life.  Help me to wait on you, listen for your voice, and walk beside you throughout my life.  Amen.