The Shepherd

Read Time: 7:30 minutes

God, in the Old Testament, and Jesus Christ are portrayed as shepherds in relation to us. In the Eastern culture sheep were an important part of a family's livelihood and wealth. Our Western and industrialized cultures have a limited understanding of the significance of these metaphors.

A metaphor is "a declaration that one thing is (or represents) another, a comparison by representation."¹ Jesus Christ declares in John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." Jesus Christ didn't say he was like a shepherd which is the gentle figure of speech simile, he used a much stronger analogy, the bold metaphor, he is the good shepherd. Learning about shepherds and their sheep will help us gain a greater understanding of God's care and protection that He wants us to understand.

Sheep are divided into three groups: the males lambs of the first year, the females lambs of the first year, and the rest of the sheep. The lambs of the first year need special care. The owners family name them and care for them teaching them to obey. They are guarded well. Not only are they future income of the family but in Jewish families one of the male lambs of the first year must be chosen for Passover so it cannot have a bruise or blemish.

The three categories could help us understand what Jesus is referring to when talking to Peter in John 21:15-17 as young men, young women, and the rest of the church. That would make sense to the Eastern mind.

Psalm 23
:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
    he leadeth me beside the still waters.
:3 He restoreth my soul:
    he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
   thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
    thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
    and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The shepherd is an immeasurably important person with great responsibility. Knowing more about the sheep will explain why.

Sheep are unique animals and very reliant on the shepherd, the one who cares for them. Other animals like goats and cows are aware of their surroundings and alert to danger. They are independent and not as reliant on the shepherd. Not sheep, they are completely reliant on the shepherd to keep them safe.

Psalm 23
:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
    he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Sheep are skittish around running water, they will not drink from it. It there is no pool of still water the shepherd will make one by the stream so his flock can drink. He leads me beside still waters. If any thirst come to Jesus Christ and partake of the Living Water.

John 7
:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast,
    Jesus stood and cried, saying,
    If any man thirst, let him come unto me, [the great shepherd] and drink.
: 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
    out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

When we believe on Jesus Christ rivers of living water can also flow out of our mouths to quench the thirst of a spiritually dehydrated people.

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul:
    he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Sheep will also follow each other, even blindly. If the shepherd needs the sheep to cross a stream the shepherd will take one of the sheep and toss it across so the rest of the sheep will leap across to follow it. "All my sheep have gone astray". it is important for us follow the Great Shepherd and be aware of false doctrines. He will make us lie down in green pastures.

Psalm 23
:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
   I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
   thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

When the shepherd takes the sheep out of the fold, or pen, to pasture in the morning to graze he has equipment that he uses to take care of the flock. He takes with him his food for the day, his rod or club, a crook (also called a staff), his sling, and some smooth stones.

The staff, the item that we most closely associate with a shepherd, is a long pole with a curve at the end, some may also have a sharp blade. The blade allows the shepherd to reach into trees and get leaves for the sheep. If there is no grass around the shepherd can still provide for the sheep. While other animals starve the sheep do not; the shepherd always provides for his sheep. The curved end is used to get a hold of a sheep's neck or leg to guide it. The crook is also a symbol of authority. The one with the staff is the one responsible for the sheep. In some churches you see the leadership carrying a symbolic staff.

The rod is a club of sorts about 18" long that hangs from the shepherd's belt. It is used to defend the sheep against animals or thieves. David was a shepherd and he slew a lion and bear. That gives you an idea of the effectiveness of this weapon. Especially when it is used by a person looking to God and trusting Him.

The sling and stones are used to alert the sheep of danger. It is not a weapon. The sheep are like little children and the shepherd knows each by name. If one is wandering away he'll call out for it but if it doesn't hear, the shepherd will use the sling to land a stone by the sheep's mouth to get it's attention. The sheep will look up and the shepherd can call it back by name. The shepherd becomes an expert marksman. His intention is not to hit the animal, but to merely get it's attention.

Consider David and Goliath. In I Samuel 17 we learn of the formidable giant Goliath threatening Israel. The whole army of Israel fled from him and was sore afraid. When David heard of Goliath he was not intimidated but declared the power of God. When King Saul heard of David he sent for him. David is the youngest of Jesse's sons, a youth and a shepherd. When Saul met him he didn't believe that David would be able to fight Goliath. But David's answer was God's answer, he declared the power of God.

Saul tried to get David to wear armor and trust in his physical ability to defeat the enemy but David knew it wasn't going to be by his strength but the power of God. He confronted Goliath on the battle field with nothing more than the promise of God, his sling with 5 small stones, and a sword at his side. Goliath's presence and rhetoric was frightening, probably even more so than the lion and bear David had overcome. Think about the tactics that an enemy would deploy. But David obeyed God and slew Goliath with the sling and a stone, what the shepherd uses to get the sheeps attention.

I Samuel 17
:47 And all this assembly shall know
    that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear:
    for the battle is the LORD’s,
    and he will give you into our hands.

:50 So David prevailed over the Philistine
    with a sling and with a stone,
    and smote the Philistine, and slew him;
    but there was no sword in the hand of David.

David relied on God's direction and used a sling and stone, a device that is used to get the sheep's attention, to slay the evil assaulting God's children. Does God have your attention now? All that were present knew the significance of this act. You can read more about the great record of David and Goliath here.

Psalm 23
:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
    thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Despite the shepherd's best care sheep will still get themselves in trouble. If they get hurt the shepherd will bind their wounds with oil.

The sheep can also become cast, which is to lay down or fall in such a way that they cannot get up. To see more info on this search for "a cast sheep" online. They are truly in trouble when they become cast, they are literally unable to get up.  They need help from the shepherd.

Are there not times when we get hurt or sick? Are there times when we fall or fail and by our own strength can not get out of it? Thanks be to God that we have a shepherd, Jesus Christ, who cares for us, who lifts us up and sets us back on our feet, and bind our wounds. Even if we think we have the strength to get out of trouble, rectify a problem, or get healing, it is far more beneficial to look to the shepherd for help and care.

In the evening the sheep are returned to the sheepfold, a pen of sorts which walls were made of stacked stones to keep the sheep safe from robbers and wild animals. The sheepfold has no physical door; after the sheep are inside the shepherd becomes the door, guarding the entrance and protecting the sheep. The shepherd doesn't trust a door. He also doesn't use a hired person for the passageway either. He personally protects his precious sheep. After the sheep are in the fold the shepherd provides water in their small buckets. These are filled to overflowing, "my cup runneth over".

After the sheep are taken care of and he has eaten he lies down in the door way.

John 10
:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
    and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
    I am come that they might have life,
    and that they might have it more abundantly.
:11 I am the good shepherd:
    the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

I encourage you to read John 10:1-18 (below). Pay attention to what Jesus repeats.

When sheep graze they keep their heads down and are always looking for the next patch of grass. They aren't always aware of their surroundings. Other grazing animals will take a mouthful and then look up to check for danger.

Jesus Christ was emphasizing a concept when he told the people the following:

Matthew 25
:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory,
    and all the holy angels with him,
    then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations:
    and he shall separate them one from another,
    as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand,
    but the goats on the left.

The people knew that sheep are trusting of their shepherd and completely reliant on him (or her) for their protection, care, and sustenance. The goats are able to take care of themselves and have no need of a shepherd. Those that make Jesus Christ their Lord and believe, that God raised him from the dead, will sit at the right had of The Great Shepherd. The right hand is the hand of blessing.

A good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. He is the door, the provider, the teacher, the healer. Now we have a better understanding of Jesus Christ as the Great Shepherd.

Psalm 23
:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
    and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

God Bless.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John 10
:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you,
    He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,
    but climbeth up some other way,
    the same is a thief and a robber.
:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice:
    and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep,
    he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him:
    for they know his voice.
:5 And a stranger will they not follow,
    but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them:
    but they understood not what things they were
    which he spake unto them.
:7 Then said Jesus unto them again,
    Verily, verily, I say unto you,
    I am the door of the sheep.
:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:
    but the sheep did not hear them.
:9 I am the door:
    by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
    and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal,
    and to kill, and to destroy:
    I am come that they might have life,
    and that they might have it more abundantly.
:11 I am the good shepherd:
    the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd,
    whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming,
    and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth:
    and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling,
    and careth not for the sheep.
:14 I am the good shepherd,
    and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father:
    and I lay down my life for the sheep.
:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:
    them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;
    and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
:17 Therefore doth my Father love me,
    because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.
    I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
    This commandment have I received of my Father.

 

1 Bullinger D.D., E. W. Figures of Speech Used In The Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1979. 735  Return to text