The Good Shepherd
11/06/08 08:43 Filed in: Forgiveness
“I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.” (Luke 15: 1-10)
Shepherding is the first vocation mentioned in the Bible. The Jews of the Old Testament were a pastoral people with vast flocks of sheep grazing the Palestinian hillsides. A "Who's Who" of shepherding would include Abel, Abraham, Moses, Amos, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and many other Jewish leaders.
But the status of shepherds began to change as the Jewish population grew, agriculture advanced and cities expanded. Farmers resented the shepherds because their flocks roamed freely over arable land. Cattlemen objected to the way sheep grazed right down to the roots, leaving nothing for their livestock to eat. City dwellers looked down on shepherds as rustics, who lived with their flocks in makeshift huts isolated from the rest of society.
By Jesus' time, shepherds were considered no better than tax collectors. Yet Jesus chose to identify with shepherds, the outcasts of society, and He did so for good reason.
Shepherding is the first vocation mentioned in the Bible. The Jews of the Old Testament were a pastoral people with vast flocks of sheep grazing the Palestinian hillsides. A "Who's Who" of shepherding would include Abel, Abraham, Moses, Amos, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and many other Jewish leaders.
But the status of shepherds began to change as the Jewish population grew, agriculture advanced and cities expanded. Farmers resented the shepherds because their flocks roamed freely over arable land. Cattlemen objected to the way sheep grazed right down to the roots, leaving nothing for their livestock to eat. City dwellers looked down on shepherds as rustics, who lived with their flocks in makeshift huts isolated from the rest of society.
By Jesus' time, shepherds were considered no better than tax collectors. Yet Jesus chose to identify with shepherds, the outcasts of society, and He did so for good reason.
“I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.” (Luke 15: 1-10)
Shepherding is the first vocation mentioned in the Bible. The Jews of the Old Testament were a pastoral people with vast flocks of sheep grazing the Palestinian hillsides. A "Who's Who" of shepherding would include Abel, Abraham, Moses, Amos, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and many other Jewish leaders.
But the status of shepherds began to change as the Jewish population grew, agriculture advanced and cities expanded. Farmers resented the shepherds because their flocks roamed freely over arable land. Cattlemen objected to the way sheep grazed right down to the roots, leaving nothing for their livestock to eat. City dwellers looked down on shepherds as rustics, who lived with their flocks in makeshift huts isolated from the rest of society.
By Jesus' time, shepherds were considered no better than tax collectors. Yet Jesus chose to identify with shepherds, the outcasts of society, and He did so for good reason.
Sheep are very vulnerable creatures, unable to defend themselves against predators. For shepherds, and for Jesus, tending the flock is a 24/7 job. The sheep are never left alone and are penned up at night with the shepherd. To protect his flock, the shepherd may have to lay down His life just as Jesus did.
As grazers, sheep must be constantly moved from one pasture to the next, often over rocky, hazardous terrain. If a sheep stumbles, falls and rolls over on its back, it's called a "cast" sheep. Its thick body and wool make it difficult for the sheep to get back up without the help of the shepherd. A cast sheep becomes distressed and quickly dies. The vigilant shepherd must lift the sheep up when it is flat on its back and steady it until it is able to rejoin the flock. Anyone who has been laid low by adversity knows how important it is to be able to turn to the Good Shepherd when you are feeling downcast.
Sheep band together in flocks so they can see trouble coming from every direction. They have excellent peripheral vision and can look to the rear without moving their heads. They are so far-sighted they can spot a predator from 1,500 yards away, but their depth perception is very weak - - they cannot see danger looming right in front of their noses. Something as small as a swarm of fleas can stampede sheep the way the nits and gnats of everyday living can spook us into making bad decisions.
The herding instinct that helps to protect the sheep from predators can actually lead them astray - - if one sheep is spooked and accidentally runs off a cliff, the whole flock may follow. Likewise, it's easy for us to go along with the crowd, ignore the early warning signs and engage in a risky lifestyle.
Constantly on the outlook for danger, sheep meander as they walk. looking first over one shoulder. and then over the other. In the process, a lamb can wander away from the flock and get lost. But sheep have excellent hearing and learn to recognize the shepherd's voice when He comes in search of them. In the same manner, when we lose our way and wander from the straight and narrow path, we are still within the sound of Jesus' voice. He is always ready to call us back and forgive us.
When David wrote Psalm 23, he drew upon his own experience as a shepherd boy to describe the goodness of the Lord. What was true for David is true for each of us. In whatever vocation we have chosen, we need only ask the Good Shepherd to guide us along the right path for the sake of His name.
Shepherding is the first vocation mentioned in the Bible. The Jews of the Old Testament were a pastoral people with vast flocks of sheep grazing the Palestinian hillsides. A "Who's Who" of shepherding would include Abel, Abraham, Moses, Amos, Lot, Isaac, Jacob and many other Jewish leaders.
But the status of shepherds began to change as the Jewish population grew, agriculture advanced and cities expanded. Farmers resented the shepherds because their flocks roamed freely over arable land. Cattlemen objected to the way sheep grazed right down to the roots, leaving nothing for their livestock to eat. City dwellers looked down on shepherds as rustics, who lived with their flocks in makeshift huts isolated from the rest of society.
By Jesus' time, shepherds were considered no better than tax collectors. Yet Jesus chose to identify with shepherds, the outcasts of society, and He did so for good reason.
Sheep are very vulnerable creatures, unable to defend themselves against predators. For shepherds, and for Jesus, tending the flock is a 24/7 job. The sheep are never left alone and are penned up at night with the shepherd. To protect his flock, the shepherd may have to lay down His life just as Jesus did.
As grazers, sheep must be constantly moved from one pasture to the next, often over rocky, hazardous terrain. If a sheep stumbles, falls and rolls over on its back, it's called a "cast" sheep. Its thick body and wool make it difficult for the sheep to get back up without the help of the shepherd. A cast sheep becomes distressed and quickly dies. The vigilant shepherd must lift the sheep up when it is flat on its back and steady it until it is able to rejoin the flock. Anyone who has been laid low by adversity knows how important it is to be able to turn to the Good Shepherd when you are feeling downcast.
Sheep band together in flocks so they can see trouble coming from every direction. They have excellent peripheral vision and can look to the rear without moving their heads. They are so far-sighted they can spot a predator from 1,500 yards away, but their depth perception is very weak - - they cannot see danger looming right in front of their noses. Something as small as a swarm of fleas can stampede sheep the way the nits and gnats of everyday living can spook us into making bad decisions.
The herding instinct that helps to protect the sheep from predators can actually lead them astray - - if one sheep is spooked and accidentally runs off a cliff, the whole flock may follow. Likewise, it's easy for us to go along with the crowd, ignore the early warning signs and engage in a risky lifestyle.
Constantly on the outlook for danger, sheep meander as they walk. looking first over one shoulder. and then over the other. In the process, a lamb can wander away from the flock and get lost. But sheep have excellent hearing and learn to recognize the shepherd's voice when He comes in search of them. In the same manner, when we lose our way and wander from the straight and narrow path, we are still within the sound of Jesus' voice. He is always ready to call us back and forgive us.
When David wrote Psalm 23, he drew upon his own experience as a shepherd boy to describe the goodness of the Lord. What was true for David is true for each of us. In whatever vocation we have chosen, we need only ask the Good Shepherd to guide us along the right path for the sake of His name.
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