All We Like Sheep...
By Susan Klein
“He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
Isaiah 40:11
By Susan Klein
“He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
Isaiah 40:11
Throughout Scripture, we read about Jesus being our “shepherd,”
and we are called his “sheep.” Though I’ve always trusted it to be a good
analogy, I’ve never given it a whole lot of consideration. Have you ever
wondered, “Why sheep?” Why not, Jesus is the goat herder and we are his goats?
Let’s take a look at the behaviors of the ones we are likened to.
Sheep, by nature, tend to congregate close to other members of a flock. However, some can be stubborn and want to go off in their own direction in search of greener pastures (always motivated by their appetites!). Unaware of possible harm, if one strays, a few others tend to follow. At the first sign of danger, sheep will generally flee, but can actually become paralyzed with fear and unable to move, needing their shepherd to rescue them, lest they perish. When cornered, they often resort to foot-stomping and snorting. They can become stressed when separated from their flock and suffer from great anxiety. Gee, doesn’t sound at all like humans, does it?
Now, let’s look at the shepherd. If one little lamb strays from the flock, he is quick to search for her and discipline her to avert further straying and possible danger. The shepherd cares so much that he will actually inflict pain upon that lamb, often by injuring her in the leg. The lamb will be unable to walk for a time and be totally dependent upon the shepherd for all her needs. The shepherd will carry her around on his shoulders and feed her by hand until she is strong enough to walk and graze again. He speaks to his sheep often, whether disciplining or just walking along, so they will know their master’s voice. They listen for it and trust it. The shepherd always lies at the gate to his sheepfold at night, protecting its entrance from predators who might try to sneak in and devour one from the flock.
Isn’t this an amazing picture of our Lord, The Great Shepherd, and his interaction with us, His sheep? He cares about each one of us individually. He nurtures us, He carries us in our time of need, He disciplines us when we walk away from Him, and He speaks to us. Are we listening and trusting, or are we straying into dangerous situations? All we like sheep...
GOING DEEPER:
1. In what area of your life are you in search of greener pastures, straying from the safety of your Shepherd?
2. In what ways can you learn to distinguish the sound of His voice from the voices of others?
FURTHER READING:
John 10:1-30; Isaiah 53: 4-8
Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.
Sheep, by nature, tend to congregate close to other members of a flock. However, some can be stubborn and want to go off in their own direction in search of greener pastures (always motivated by their appetites!). Unaware of possible harm, if one strays, a few others tend to follow. At the first sign of danger, sheep will generally flee, but can actually become paralyzed with fear and unable to move, needing their shepherd to rescue them, lest they perish. When cornered, they often resort to foot-stomping and snorting. They can become stressed when separated from their flock and suffer from great anxiety. Gee, doesn’t sound at all like humans, does it?
Now, let’s look at the shepherd. If one little lamb strays from the flock, he is quick to search for her and discipline her to avert further straying and possible danger. The shepherd cares so much that he will actually inflict pain upon that lamb, often by injuring her in the leg. The lamb will be unable to walk for a time and be totally dependent upon the shepherd for all her needs. The shepherd will carry her around on his shoulders and feed her by hand until she is strong enough to walk and graze again. He speaks to his sheep often, whether disciplining or just walking along, so they will know their master’s voice. They listen for it and trust it. The shepherd always lies at the gate to his sheepfold at night, protecting its entrance from predators who might try to sneak in and devour one from the flock.
Isn’t this an amazing picture of our Lord, The Great Shepherd, and his interaction with us, His sheep? He cares about each one of us individually. He nurtures us, He carries us in our time of need, He disciplines us when we walk away from Him, and He speaks to us. Are we listening and trusting, or are we straying into dangerous situations? All we like sheep...
GOING DEEPER:
1. In what area of your life are you in search of greener pastures, straying from the safety of your Shepherd?
2. In what ways can you learn to distinguish the sound of His voice from the voices of others?
FURTHER READING:
John 10:1-30; Isaiah 53: 4-8
Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.
