He brought his people out like a flock; He led them like sheep through the desert. He guided them safely, so they were unafraid... . Psalm 78:52
By way of definition, the Bible dictionary defines a shepherd’s responsibilities as very burdensome. "In early morning he leads the flock from the fold to the spot where they are to be pastured. He watches them all day, making sure that none of the sheep stray, and if any wandered away from the rest, he would seek diligently until he found and brought it back. Sheep are required to be supplied regularly with water, and it is the shepherd’s job to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness. At night the shepherd brings the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod to assure himself that none were missing. His work did not always end with sunset, often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts or the cunning attempts of a prowling thief. The Bible Dictionary also explains that sheep rely on the shepherd for everything: guidance, protection, all of their basic needs.
The same is true of us. We are depended upon the Lord Jesus Christ for everything, all of our needs.
The Bible frequently uses the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep to illustrate God’s care and concern for His people. The famous 23rd Psalm is the most familiar. We will also look at John 10 and Ezekial 34 as reference points for our study this month.
LOST SHEEP
Although we have come to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd and seek to follow Him and depend on Him for all of our needs, there are many others who do not know Him and are lost, without protection or direction for their lives. Matthew records the heart of Jesus for the lost; When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
Do you remember your days of feeling harassed by the enemy to the point of helplessness, "like a sheep without a shepherd?" I can. One of the many things I do not miss from my life before Christ is that overwhelming feeling of despair and anxiety. I would constantly worry about everything. I felt as if I had no one to trust but myself. It was a great reward for me to be able to "cast my cares" upon someone Who cares for me. Even now, when I find myself feeling overwhelmed, I remind myself of what I have in Christ, a Shepherd who looks after His sheep to provide and care for them.
You can have the same peace in knowing that you have a Shepherd who will provide and care for you. God loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for your sins, so that once you believe in Him, you will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16. God has a plan for your life. He wants you to have not only eternal life but an abundant life here on earth. A life full of peace and joy which comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. John 10:10.
But, because of your sin, you are separated from God. Romans 3:23. The penalty for your sin is death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23. However, Jesus paid the penalty for your sin and died for you in your place. Romans 5:8.
If you would repent of your sin, confess and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, you will be saved from your sins. For whoever call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13. You will need to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you shall be saved. Romans 10:9,10. You can do it NOW!! - Just bow your head and pray: Lord, I am a guilty, lost, helpless sinner. I believe You suffered on the cross for my sins and died in my place to pay the penalty for my sins, and that You rose again. I call on You to forgive my sins and give me eternal life. "He that hath the Son hath life," and when you have the opportunity, don’t forget to confess Him before men as your Lord and share what God is doing in your life..
Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd died to save us and lives to guide us: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23
The 23rd Psalm is a vivid picture of all that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is to His people. Some of His promises in verses 1 and 2 are contentment, security and rest pictured by the green pastures and the quiet waters (taken from NIV Study Bible notes). We can count on Jesus’ guidance into paths of righteousness that lead to the center of His will which brings safety and wholeness to our lives.
The 23rd Psalm points to the rod or staff of the Shepherd. Earlier we discovered that one of the many tasks of the shepherd was to guide, count, rescue and protect the flock in order to keep them from wandering off. Here, we also find that the Good Shepherd has a rod. The NIV study notes suggests that this rod can be seen as an instrument of authority and support. Considering this theory, I would suggest that the rod of the Good Shepherd today is His Word. Certainly, the Word of God is the authority and support necessary to be good sheep who follow the Good Shepherd. So, once again, we are directed back to the Word of God as the final authority and the only source of Truth.
Appropriately, the Psalmist concludes the 23rd Psalm with the promise of an overflowing anointing that causes goodness and mercy to follow us all the days of our lives.
EZEKIAL 34 PROMISES
"I will deliver My flock from their mouth." Jeremiah 23:1 Here, is a wonderful picture of the power of God on behalf of His people who are in relationship with him. The 34th chapter of Ezekial makes some wonderful promises to the sheep from the Good Shepherd: "I Myself, even I will search...and seek...and deliver...and bring out..and gathered them...bring them in...and feed them...and caused them..to lie down...and bind up...and strengthen them."
SHEPHERD/SHEEP RELATIONSHIP
He [Jesus] calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
"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. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." John 10:4-18
No. 1 He owns the sheep. In verse 4 Jesus uses a personal and possessive tone when referring to His sheep. He says; "My sheep know my voice". It is wonderful news to know that Jesus owns us. The Bible tells us that we have been bought with a price, the high price of the blood Jesus, and we do not even belong to ourselves. We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and He not only owns us, but He knows us and is able to meet all of our needs.
No. 2 He knows the sheep. This relationship is one of mutual commitment. He knows His sheep and they know Him. It is not enough to say that we know the Lord, but rather does the Lord know us. As in any relationship the goal is to know and to be known by each other. It is no different in our relationship with Jesus, we should be striving to become closer and closer to the Lord, Himself. Not just attending church and doing good deeds every now and then. The difference between Christianity and other religions is that ours is one of relationship rather than religion.
No. 3 He leads the sheep. Sheep are a different kind of animal, they will go astray and their guidance and safety are depended upon them following the shepherd. Jesus, our Good Shepherd goes before them [the sheep], and they follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:4. "The Lord is my shepherd...He leadeth me....in paths of righteousness." Psalm 23: 1-3. We, the sheep of the Shepherd, are trained by the Holy Spirit to know His voice as He speaks to us through His Word.
No. 4 He gives his life for the sheep. Twice Jesus clearly says "I lay down my life for the sheep" and twice he also says "I have the power to take it again" (10:17,18). Jesus freely gave Himself up for us, His life was not taken from him, it was willingly given. Although the word "sheep" in this text applies to believers only, Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 Another blessing in Jesus having given his life for the sheep is that He is able to not only give life, but life more abundantly, (John 10:10) But best of all He also offers eternal life to his sheep (John 10:28). Praise God!!!
No. 5 He protects his sheep. Whenever danger arose, earthly shepherds where there to fight off the thieves, robbers or wolves. Similarly, our Good Shepherd is ever more ready to protect us from the thief who comes only to kill, steal, and destroy His sheep.
There are many spiritual foes bent on destroying the Church of Christ. To name a few: hate, anger, jealousy, doubt and fear. But praise God for the Almighty, all powerful, always present Shepherd protecting his sheep. Even though we are surrounded by thieves, robbers and wolves in this world, may God give us the grace to hear, believe, follow and obey the Good Shepherd as He leads the way.
This Gospel Illustration gives us another example of how the Lord keeps watch over His sheep, and this story clearly illustrates all that we have been discussing this issue. Read and share with others:
A BULLET MARK
An Irish Christian farmer in King's County, went to call on a sick neighbor, and took his Bible with him in his breast pocket. A plot by Romanists to take his life, was to be brought to an issue that night. Riding along a lonely road, a bullet from the woods struck his breast, and entered the Bible he carried. To many a friend in after years he showed that bullet mark, and its passage through the Book, until it stopped at the words of John 17, grazing the words of verse 11, "Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name, those whom Thou hast given Me."
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