It Starts Small

WE are studying Psalms 23 and for a few days we have focused on David’s opening line:

The Lord is my Shepherd;

Psalm 23:1

Today we are going to look at both the sheep and the shepherd. God created sheep. They are very interesting animals; as are most of all his creations. No other animal on this planet closely relates to humans as sheep do. DO you ever wonder why God compares us to sheep? There has to be a reason why Jesus refers to himself as our Good Shepherd and us, His sheep.

Sheep have no sense of direction

Many people say sheep are stupid. Let’s just say they have no sense of direction–at all. In fact, they will follow whoever is leading them, even if it leads them off a cliff. Remember the question, “If your friend jumps off a cliff, would you do it too?” Well, they actually would.

There was a new report going around Christian social networks. I could not locate the actual article, but it was said that 1600 sheep walked off a cliff. Apparently, the sheep in the back could se not past the sheep in front, so they were unaware of what was ahead. The sheep in front couldn’t stop because the sheep in the back were pushing them forward.  Does this kinda remind you of your teen years or the proverbial blind leading the blind phrase.

Another story I recall is one farmer said that if you have a bunch of sheep in a barn, stretch a rope across the door before you let them out. When the sheep come out of the barn, the first few will jump over the rope. If you cut the rope, the remaining sheep will still jump over the “invisible rope” because it’s what the rest of the flock did. Its okay to laugh, it is pretty stupid if you think about it.

You can google or youtube instances where humans pretty much do the same thing. I watched a video where there were applicants waiting for a job interview. The first one would clap everytime a bell would chime. As others came in, they began doing the same thing.

How many times do we follow someone who is leading us in the wrong direction or acting foolishly? We see our friends fall off the cliff, and we go right along with them into the ravine.

Or we imitate them because we think it is cool when they are really just doing something stupid. And now, we are doing it too…I can think of a few weird hairstyles in that category.

We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished him
for the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

Sheep are defenseless

One of the most interesting characteristics of sheep in the Bible is that they can not defend themselves very well.

Have you ever seen sheep growl or show their teeth? Or maybe bark, bite, run fast, shoot quills, or pull out their claws? Perhaps they could spray you with their…uh, fur. Ha!

Sheep do not have natural defences, except when they are frightened they will will run together as a whole group. At least in a whole group they are better off than alone. Sheep can also kick. Other than these two defense mechanisms, sheep are a buffet just waiting to be eaten by a wolf, bear, or lion if they do not stick together.

We are much the same way. We can kick a little and run, but we are defenseless mostly. God compares us to sheep in the Bible because we need His protection. We need to stick together as fellow Christians.

Sheep can’t get up without help

Sometimes, sheep turn over on their back (like a cockroach or turtle) with their legs flailing in the air. There is an old English shepherd’s term for this. It is called “cast down.” A “cast” sheep is actually a pitiful sight. It will die if the shepherd does not lift it and put it back on its feet. When in this position, it is completely helpless to the prey around it, it could get left behind when the flock moves on, or get their intestins bound up while struggling to get turned over.

How often have we been “cast down” or flailing on our backs?

I can think of a few times when I would have been in serious trouble without intervention from the Good Shepherd. Thank goodness He loves us enough to help us get right-sided. I know God compares us to sheep in the Bible for good reason. We are a mess without Him.

He protects his flock like a shepherd;
he gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them in the fold of his garment.
He gently leads those that are nursing.

Isaiah 40:11

Sheep are emotional and recognize the Shepherd’s voice

This is where stupidity ends for shepherds and sheep in the Bible. One of the most remarkable things about sheep is they have a remarkable instinct for knowing the voice of their shepherd and because they are emotional animals, they can detect strangers. Amazingly, they will fear a stranger’s voice and flee.

Since sheep are emotional, they can build friendships with other sheep and stick up for each other when in a fight. They can also get anxious or distressed very easily, and they feel sad when their sheep friends are gone (dead). What they lack in direction, they make up for in loyalty, friendship, and voice recognition for the shepherd.

I think there is a breakdown when God compares us to sheep in the Bible. We aren’t so loyal, we don’t always stick up for friends, and we struggle to recognize the Shepherd’s voice.

Perhaps we don’t know His voice because we aren’t communing with Him all day and all night like sheep do with their shepherd. However, we do have the ability to hear the Shepherd’s voice if we will stop and listen. But that is hard for some sheep (us), I think.

 ⁴ When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.”

John 10:4-5

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.

John 10:14-16

Sheep are not meant to carry burdens

You will never see sheep carrying a pack on their back. Other animals are good for carrying things, but not sheep. There is even a type of goat that can be used to pack mule. SHe, hoever, were not meant to carry a heavy load. They would be crushed under such a weighty burden.

This is why God compares us to sheep in the Bible.

We were not meant to carry our burdens. We are to give Him our heavy load so He can carry it for us.

Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

Sheep will settle for less

When sheep are thirsty, they stop at a dirty puddle right before them instead of going for the clean, still water twenty feet ahead of them. Sadly, they are content with filth so long as it satisfies them at the moment. Furthermore, they will stink and never even know it. Truthfully, they lack discernment and judgment and, frankly, don’t know what is good for them.

I find we are not much different.

Many times we see a dirty puddle (sin) in front of us and go straight for it because we think that is all there is in life. We believe we are satiated when, in reality, we are poisoned and stink. Perhaps it (sin) even looks enticing at the time because, after all, it is “water.”  We often KNOW it will harm us, yet we still do it because we are stubborn, blinded from the truth, or lack judgment.

God compares us to sheep in the Bible because we don’t always know what is good for us.

Sheep are valuable

The significance of sheep in the Bible is probably more than you ever realized. Sheep were treated as a prized possession in Jesus’ day. You were counted as a wealthy man if you owned large flocks because they provided meat, milk, and wool and they produced offspring. Shepherds made many sacrifices to make sure their flocks were protected. They knew it was their livelihood at stake.

How much more precious are we than smelly sheep?

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us because He loved us so much. He died on a cross so we would live with Him forever. Now can you see the significance of sheep in the Bible? God views us as priceless.

Sheep can not care for themselves when wounded

When sheep get a wound they can not care for themselves. Other animals lick a wound until it heals, but not sheep. They need a shepherd to tend to their injuries. Many times there would be a salve that needed to be put on their leg and possibly binding of the wounds. A good shepherd would look after the wound constantly until it was healed completely.

Oh, how He wants to look after our wounds, treat them with salve, and bind them up. Often, we are brokenhearted and need His healing, but we won’t let Him touch us. This is why God compares us to sheep in the Bible.

He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.

Psalms 147:3

Sheep are innocent

In Christianity, sheep symbolize gentleness, purity, and innocence. The lamb, which was not a goat or any other animal, was sacrificed at Passover because it represented the Lamb of God–flawless, pure, and holy. Interestingly, goats are known for being independent, opinionated, and curious at best—or vulgar, dangerous, and destructive at worst. If you know anything about Satanism, you know they use a goat as their symbol, as it is the opposite of a lamb.

We are to be innocent as lambs. Pure and righteous. Not goats who are independent, strong-willed, and destructive. That’s the difference between sheep and goats in the Bible.

All the nations^[a] will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

Matthew 25:32

Spiritual Lessons From Sheep

 

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them^[a] and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. ¹³ This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep. ¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:11-15

Jesus said this about sheep, “I am the good shepherd.” This is one of the most important verses about sheep in the Bible and one of the most famous lessons Jesus speaks about sheep. Just like sheep, we have no direction without Him, lack protection on every side, and were never meant to carry a heavy load. We can not make it alone without Him.

On the other hand, I find it heartwarming that, as senseless as sheep are, God made them valuable. You would never think they had any redeeming qualities because they are such wanderers, but they do. They are a symbol of great blessing and prosperity.

Oh, that we would take a lesson from sheep and run to the Good Shepherd who will lead us to the spring of living waters and take care of us forever. Furthermore, that we would truly know our value as one who is priceless to the Shepherd.