Biblical Places Spiritual Spaces Sheep and Shepherds
Bethlehem Pasture and Shepherds
Sheep and Shepherd are important elements of Biblical culture and provide much imagery for the Biblical message. Here are a few examples:
Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalms 100:1-3
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might,
With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him
And His recompense before Him.
11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs, And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes. Isaiah 40:10-11
1 For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.
13 I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord GOD. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. Ezekiel 34:11-16
Most of us have never been around sheep nor met a shepherd. To us, they are cuddly, cute animals that are used in images to communicate gentleness, love, and care. We wear wool clothing, and occasionally eat rack of lamb. Most First World people are unfamiliar with the nature of sheep, and what they require for care. Thus we often miss the essence of the Biblical image of sheep and shepherds.
Anyone who has travelled to the Middle East has probably seen sheep out in the fields, but rarely do we get within smelling distance. We don’t spend quality time this these mythical animals, and do not know their personalities. When we read Psalms 100:3 “We are the sheep of His pasture” do we really understand what we are identifying with?
When we read what Peter is writing to his friends about shepherding, do we understand what that actually entails?
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:1-3
Bethlehem pasture and shepherd
The Nature of Sheep
Sheep are one of the few animals who do not have a defense system. Aside from limited defense of the horned rams, they are totally dependent on a shepherd to protect them. Like the sheep, we are defenseless without our Good Shepherd.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Sheep have a low level of intelligence. They do not seem to learn from prior experiences. There are many video clips of sheep being pulled from ditches or holes, only to immediately step right back into them. Proverbs often refers to a similar personality characteristic in mankind.
A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
The naive proceed and pay the penalty. Proverbs 27:12
Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11
Left unattended, sheep have a tendency to wander off and are easily distracted. They will separate from the flock in search of 'greener’' pastures. They often exhibit a rebellious and overconfident personality. Once they are separated from the flock, they become easy prey for predators, which rarely attack the entire flock. Sheep don’t understand that their only protection is the care of a watchful shepherd.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way; Isaiah 53:6
Proverbs reminds us that we humans also have these tendencies for rebellious, overconfident, and distracted behavior, and must keep our focus on the path ahead.
Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27
Sheep easily follow a leader. Shepherds will make noises with their voices, or hit the ground or rocks with their staffs, and sheep will follow with their heads down, looking for that next blade of grass. They will easily be led astray by a bad shepherd.
For the shepherds have become stupid
And have not sought the LORD;
Therefore they have not prospered,
And all their flock is scattered. Jeremiah 10:21
Sheep are smelly, and accumulate dirt and debris in their fleece. They make noise at night, which prevents the flock and shepherd from getting any sleep.
Shepherds who spend weeks walking with their sheep begin to smell like sheep. They were considered to be on the lower rungs of Hebrew society, right above tax collectors and prostitutes.
Shepherding was considered to be the least desirable job in the extended family. Often this task was given to the youngest. When the prophet Samuel came to visit the family of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel, all of Jesse’s sons were present, except for the youngest, David, who was not considered important enough to attend this most significant visitation from the most significant man in Israel.
Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. 1 Samuel 16:10-13
Let’s consider the most famous Psalm about sheep and shepherd, with a cultural understanding as David the shepherd thought we would.
Psalm 23 A psalm of David
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalms 23
“The Lord is My Shepherd”
It’s a declaration.
Principle: Jesus is My Shepherd. He is my Protector!
“I shall not want”
Want: Hebrew:ḥāsēr: A verb indicating to be lacking, to be needy; to decrease. In general, it refers to a failure of something to be fully complete, whole, sufficient. It refers to a jar’s being empty (of oil).
Principle: The one whose shepherd is the Lord shall not lack.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures”
How to make a sheep to lie down:
1) enough food- feel stomach;
2) need water;
3) check their nose wipe the bugs or leaches;
4) Wipes the gnats and flies out of their eyes;
4) make a secure sheepfold- usually a cave or brush corral with the shepherd sleeping at the opening or door.
“He leads me beside the quiet, still water”
Sheep have thick wool on their chest and weak front legs, and are very afraid of moving water.
“He restores my soul”
Well fed, watered, cleaned, and safe, the sheep have no fear and no worry.
Principle: Jesus will care and provide security for us now and forever.
“He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
Sheep follow the shepherd head down around by listening to his voice or the sound of his staff hitting on the rock.
Principle: Jesus will personally lead us on His path of Life
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:5-6
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
The rod is usually a tree root ball with a rope tied around the straight handle with is used to throw at wolves, or foxes, to keep predators away from the sheep. The staff provides the noise signal to guide the sheep and if they fall into a crevice, is used to get them out.
Principle: Jesus will fight our battle for us and rescue us when we have fallen
” You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;”
In Biblical culture, you only eat with your friends.
Principle: Our shepherd even allows us to make peace with our enemies and become friends.
“You have anointed my head with oil;”
Pink skinned sheep get sunburned or heat rash on their foreheads. Oil soothes this and quiets the sheep.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. 1 Samuel 16:13
Principle: Jesus has invited into His Royal Family and made us princes and princesses.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:9-13
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 1 John 3:1-2
“ Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,”
Follow: rāḏap̱: A verb meaning to pursue, to chase,
Goodness: Hebrew tob: 1. be good, be better, i.e., be in a state of having proper characteristics or performing an expected function; do well, do good; 2. be prosperous, formally, be good, i.e., have favorable circumstance and lack of trouble in life, implying the accumulation of many possessions, make prosper (Eze 36:11+); 3. be beautiful, i.e., have a good, lovely appearance (Nu 24:5); 4. feel good, i.e., have a mental feeling of well-being; 5. be pleased, formally, be good in the eyes, i.e., have a fondness and pleasure in an event or person
Lovingkindness; Hebrew ḥěsěḏ: n.masc.; 1. loyal love, unfailing kindness, devotion, i.e., a love or affection that is steadfast based on a prior relationship; 2. glory, i.e., lovely appearance; 3. favor, i.e., the giving benefits
Follow: Hebrew rāḏǎp̄: v.; ≡ Str 7291; TWOT 2124—1. pursue, chase, i.e., make linear motion with considerable effort and focus, driven; chase (Jdg 20:43+); 2. persecute, i.e., to harass or systematically oppress another, be hounded (La 5:5+); 3. follow, strive after, devise, i.e., try to do something with considerable effort, intensity, and focus, strive,
Principle: As God’s children, His favor, prosperity, loyal love and glory is actively going before, with and behind us in this life.
“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Principle: Jesus is preparing an eternal place for us.
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3”
Jesus declares Himself to be our Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 10:11-18
Principles:
- The Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
- Jesus personally knows each of His sheep and they personally know Him.
- Jesus will bring sheep from other cultures together as one flock.
- On His own initiative, our shepherd gives His life for his sheep.
- Jesus controls Life and Death.
With these understandings of Biblical sheep and shepherds, what is our personal application?
Our Mission:
1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus *came and *took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. John 21:1-14
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.”
16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17
He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep. John 21:15-17
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!” 20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21 So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” John 21:18-22
Personal Application
Be a sheep that follows and relies on his Good Shepherd.
Be a shepherd to those whom the Lord brings into your flock.
Finally:
Sheep and Shepherds are very precious to Our Lord. It was to them that He first announced His arrival on Earth!
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-12
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