Sheep

Many times we read through that  segment of Scripture without realizing the depth of what Jesus was telling His disciples that day.  Let’s step back a bit and review sheep and shepherding two thousand years ago.  Some of these things are still in practice today in Israel.

What many of us don’t realize is that to be shepherd is to be totally devoted to sheep.  Let’s take a look at a typical middle-eastern shepherd.  Each shepherd names his sheep.  He can have a hundred or more sheep but each one has a unique name.  The shepherd talks to his sheep on a regular basis and calls them by name.  Each sheep knows the shepherd’s voice this way.  The shepherd maintains a daily relationship with his sheep.  He is a fearless protector of them.

Many Americans look at shepherding as being a wimpy job.  It’s not so.  We learn from David that he had to drive off lions, bears, wolves, and those who would steal sheep from his flock.  To be a shepherd is far from being weak or wimpy.  Fearlessness, courage, and strength are the hallmarks of a shepherd.

At night when the daily grazing is done and the flock is ready to retire there are sheepfolds built out of rock.  They are shaped like the letter “C” but with square corners and one opening leading into it.  The sheep file into the sheepfold and nestle in.  The shepherd sleeps at the entrance to the sheepfold with his staff by his side to protect the sheep and watch over them.

Shepherds regularly come into the marketplaces and the sheep intermingle with each other as the shepherds meet and talk and discuss issues of the day.  It’s quite a busy scene.  Herds of bleating sheep and shepherds are talking and milling around.  The sheep are not marked.  There are no brands or tags on them.  They are all intermingled.  Then one by one as a shepherd goes to leave he calls out the names of his sheep one by one.  And one by one they each leave the large flock and follow the shepherd back out of the town and back out to pasture.  The sheep know the shepherd’s voice and they know their names, one by one.

King David, perhaps the most famous Old Testament shepherd, wrote the 23^rd Psalm which is probably the most famous or well known Psalm as well.  He knew all there was to know about sheep and I am sure the Lord’s inspiration was on him when he wrote this: 

David recognized that the Lord was the source of his supply and provision and that he and his flock would not go without daily provision.  The second verse speaks to the goodness of God in giving green lush pastures and water for the sheep.  Sheep will only drink from still water.  They lack the capacity or skill to drink from a running stream or fast moving water.  And David speaks to God’s protection and security and the love God has for us. 

But sheep are not without some trouble either.  They are not known to be the most intelligent of creatures and can be rather hard-headed, strong-willed, and stupid as well.  They need a shepherd.  Shepherds have a trademark disciplinary system.  Some of this may sound harsh but there really is no other way for sheep to be disciplined.

There is in every flock a wayward sheep.  It’s the hard-headed, do-it-my-way sheep.  It’s the one who has the bright idea of straying away from the safety of the flock and the shepherd’s watchful eye.  The first time the sheep strays the shepherd goes after the sheep and guides the sheep back to the flock.  The second time, he again goes after the sheep and the sheep gets a smack of the staff across the hind quarters and it is taken back to the flock.  The third time the sheep strays, the shepherd breaks a leg of the sheep and carries that sheep on his shoulders talking to the sheep and nurtures it back to a loving relationship with the flock.  If it happens a fourth time, the sheep is dinner.

 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.

John 10:2  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:3  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

John 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

John 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

John 10:6  This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

John 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

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.

John 10:10  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.

John 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:12  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.

John 10:13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

John 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

John 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:16  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.

John 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

John 10:18  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.