The Good Shepherd

A faint cry for help is heard above the blowing wind. It is a little lost lamb, pleading for someone to come and help him out of his plight. It was a beautiful day, and the lamb had wondered away from the flock. He had frolicked in the meadow and climbed up a steep hillside. That was when it had happened. His little legs became tangled in a thorny vine, and he was unable to free himself. After struggling unsuccessfully for hours to free himself, the lamb mustered all his strength and gave one last cry for help. With joy, the lamb looked down the hillside and saw his shepherd, coming to rescue him. The shepherd cut the lamb loose from the vines and held him close to his chest. The shepherd whispered, "It's OK, I'm here and you are safe now."

What does a shepherd do? According to Webster, a shepherd is, "a person who tends sheep." A domesticated sheep needs a lot of care and attention from a shepherd. According to sheepcaretaker.com (Why Do Sheep Need A Shepherd? - SheepCaretaker by Regie), sheep need shepherds to protect them, shear them, and look out for their health. Sheep need someone to guide them to the best food and water available. They need someone to keep the predators away that would try to harm them. Sheep need a shepherd who is interested in their welfare and will go after a sheep that has gone astray. They need to be led to good areas and away from bad areas.

The Bible has great illustrations of God as a caring shepherd. Isaiah 40:11 asserts, "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." Ezekiel 34: 11-15 says, "For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God."

In John 10:1-16, Jesus said, "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. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 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. I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. 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. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. 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." Isaiah 53:6 declares, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Jesus submitted Himself to death so that we, His sheep, could have eternal life with Him in heaven!

How amazing it is that The Lamb of God is also our shepherd! Revelation 7:17 says, "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

David, the psalmist, knew a lot about sheep. He tended his father Jesse's flocks as a youth. He even killed a lion and a bear that had tried to attack his sheep. David likened God's people to sheep in Psalm 79:13, "But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise." Also. in Psalm 95 verse 7, David proclaimed, "For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His Hand. To day if ye will hear His voice." David said in Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. 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. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 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." David recognized that God meets every need we have and that He is always present to guide us throughout our journey here on Earth.

Pastors are also likened unto shepherds. In Acts 20:28, pastors are exhorted, "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His Own blood." Also in 1 Peter 5:1-4, "So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." We are also exhorted to listen to our pastor's guidance in Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

I will close this blog with Hebrews 13:20-21, "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, 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."