WE ALL LIKE SHEEP…

Despite the cold and snow blanketing the UK over recent days, where we live the sheep are still in the fields. Their thick fleece keeps them warm enough, but they still need the care of the farmer to keep their supply of water free from ice and to keep them fed with fresh supplies of hay each day.

But generally in England we rarely see a shepherd spending time with his sheep. The sheep scatter over the fields and the shepherd works with his dog to round them up again when required. In other words the sheep are driven to wherever they are required to go. To an observer the scene is one of much activity and expended energy, tiring for the shepherd, his dog and the sheep.

This scene is very different from years gone by or from the scene in other countries. A number of years ago I watched a shepherd with his sheep in Greece. There was no dog in sight, just a shepherd and a small flock of sheep. The shepherd was playing some pipes as he was walking down the track and the sheep were following him. Every now and again he would turn to call back a straggler from the flock and slow the others down whilst the straggler caught up. A peaceful and tranquil scene, the shepherd looked at ease and the sheep appeared to be calm and content to follow the shepherd wherever he led them.

This contrast in the ways of caring for sheep brings to mind the scriptural description of ourselves as being like sheep. David writes:

“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts…” Psa 95:7-8

And

“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant; for I do not forget Your commandments.” Psa 119:176

The characteristics of sheep are used in many ways throughout scripture to bring to life some of the aspects of human characteristics and behaviour in relation to the things of God. This idea of going astray and needing to be led like sheep back to the good pasture of God’s word is picked up by Isaiah. He writes:

“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. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” Isa 53:6-7

God has provided the means by which those who have faith and who trust in Him can be brought back to Him and be forgiven. Again the symbolism of sheep is used. But this time we have the analogy of a lamb being led unresisting to the slaughter. A lamb by nature is defenseless, harmless, an innocent young creature. Thus the Lord Jesus is set before us as one cruelly oppressed and afflicted, innocent of any wrong doing, yet condemned. But like a lamb led to the slaughter, he did not protest and kept silent against the malicious charges laid against him.

There are two aspects to the Lord Jesus. The first aspect of Jesus in scripture is as the Lamb of God. He knew his Fathers voice; he followed His father willingly and obediently. Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb of God in complete trust that his Father would provide for him and protect him. He was indeed raised back to life and is now at his Fathers side, which brings us on to the second aspect of Jesus.

This second aspect is that of being the ‘good shepherd’ caring for his sheep. Jesus knows his sheep and they know him. There is no harsh driving of the flock by the Lord Jesus, but His sheep know the ‘Good Shepherds’ voice and follow Him. He leads them to good pasture and by still waters. He feeds his flock and provides for them. Yet as all sheep will, the sheep often go astray. Then the Good Shepherd seeks them out and tries to bring them back. If the sheep have not learned to recognise the Good Shepherds voice and heed His call, they will get lost.

These two aspects of Jesus firstly as the perfect Lamb of God, secondly as the Good Shepherd of his sheep, speak so eloquently about the means of our salvation. Those who have diligently heeded the Good Shepherds voice will find that he will lead them to green and verdant pastures and they will be able to drink abundantly from the water of life. This simile is continued to the description of the judgment. The sheep are those permitted to stand at Christ’s right hand amongst those acceptable to him, whilst the goats are condemned to the left as rejected by him (Matt Ch. 25). The sheep had followed the Good Shepherd and heeded his voice; they had exhibited ‘lamb’ like characteristics of meekness, obedience, trust, and sacrifice. We read that Jesus will say to them:

“Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: I was naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.” Matt 25:34-36

Let us therefore do likewise, that we also might inherit a blessing.

Andy P.

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!" Psalm 119:1-2