SHEPHERDS
AND SHEEP!
Isa
40:11
11 He shall feed his flock like a
shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,
and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Luke
15:4-5
4 What man of you, having an hundred
sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the
wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth
it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
3
John 4
4 I have no greater joy than to hear
that my children walk in truth.
Here
is an excerpt from Easton’s Bible Dictionary: “The
duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Palestine were very onerous
[troublesome]. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold,
marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he
watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any
for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently
till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied
regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them
either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished
with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as
they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing.
Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold
through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of
the prowling thief.”
The
church’s transformation into a theater has
unintentionally transformed congregants into theater goers. Shepherds have
become ringmasters in a circus that must add even more daring performances. The
ancient relationship of shepherd and sheep has been cruelly altered. Shepherds
have forgotten their office and sheep have forgotten that they are sheep.
Pastors
are unusual creatures and some more unusual than
others. If they are good shepherds, their standards are different from leaders
in any other enterprise. Shepherds are not CEO’s. Their relationship with the
sheep is much more than commerce. There is a tenderness and even a bit of
sacrifice in the relationship. His “bottom line” is different from most and
what makes him most happy is a healthy flock with none missing.
In
Bible days, owners of the sheep often tended the
flock themselves. The loss of any sheep was intensely felt. It was a personal
loss. He that is an hireling (John 10:12) knew that he would be paid regardless
of the condition of the flock. The sheep were often neglected or even abused.
If
Jesus is my shepherd (Psalm 23) and I am His sheep,
what can I do to make his job easier? I can take care not to stray away. I can
listen carefully to His voice and follow closely as he leads me. As John said
in the verse above, I can walk in truth. This is the shepherd’s great reward.
Heb
13:20-21
20 Now the God of peace, that brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through
the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work
to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through
Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Dear Lord, help me to be a good shepherd. Let me not
fear the night nor shun the cold. Show me the green pastures and still waters.
But I am also one of your lambs. Help me not to stray. AMEN
