by Wendy Wood
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.”
Isaiah 40:11 “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.”
Sheep are dependent on their shepherd. A flock of sheep will either flourish under a good shepherd or struggle under a bad shepherd. A flock of sheep that is cared for by a selfless, gentle, kind, wise and brave shepherd will thrive and grow. A flock of sheep under a careless, selfish, harsh shepherd will be thin, weak, riddled with disease and will fall prey to wolves and other wild animals. Sheep are like humans in many ways and that is why God uses this analogy. Sheep are fearful, timid, stubborn and short-sighted. They wander and put themselves in danger. When scripture refers to people as “sheep without a shepherd” (Numbers 27:17), it is not a compliment! We, too, are fearful, timid, stubborn, short-sighted and get ourselves into dangerous situations. We were made to be dependent on God, even before the fall, and God is the only true Shepherd.
Jesus is the good shepherd. He provides everything that we need. “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” The NIV translation says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” God, in Christ, has met every single one of our needs. In Christ, we have been justified and made right with God. In Christ, we have forgiveness and freedom from being enslaved to sin. In Christ we have eternal life with God. In Christ, we have eternal hope and joy. We lack nothing that we need. You may have some things that you want, but if that was what was best for you, you’d have it. Your good shepherd knows what you need and knows what is best for you. Philippians 4:19 says “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” The glory that is in Christ Jesus, the forgiveness, grace, mercy, and eternal life with God is all you need. The Lord is your Shepherd and you lack nothing.
The good Shepherd makes you lie down in green pastures and leads you beside still waters. Green pastures were hard to come by in the middle east, where David was shepherding when he wrote this Psalm. A shepherd would have to seek out green pastures for sheep to graze and meticulously plan during dry seasons for the sheep to be fed. Sheep only lie down when their stomachs are full. “He makes me lie down in green pastures” is a picture of God caring for us and making sure we have what we need. “He leads me beside still waters” is another picture of God’s care and provision. Sheep will not drink from running water. A wise and good shepherd must find “still waters” and lead sheep there to drink. God feeds and waters us through His word. He gives us “food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27) and says to us, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35). God calls us to green grass and still waters. His ways, revealed in His Word and Son, are the best ways. God’s way of living leads to the rest and peace in our souls that sheep experience Our problem is that we think the grass is greener and the water is sweeter somewhere else. We want to think that instead of overlooking a sin, holding a grudge will make the other person see their sin. Or we think that spending our money on ourselves will bring happiness instead of giving generously and trusting God’s word that it is better to give than receive. Only when we follow our Shepherd and listen to His voice will we find the contentment of green pastures and still waters.
The good Shepherd rescues His sheep and leads them back to the fold. “I myself will tend my sheep and make them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.” (Ezekiel 34:15-16) Left on their own, sheep wander down wrong paths and get hurt or get devoured by wolves. In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of a shepherd who has a hundred sheep and will leave the ninety-nine to find the one who has wandered off. God pursues us. John 10:27-28 tells us “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Our shepherd holds onto us. Even when we wander, God pursues, rescues and restores us to the flock. A shepherd has two different instruments to use to bring back a wandering sheep.
“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) The rod is a club like weapon that a shepherd uses to save the life of a sheep in trouble. The rod could be used against a lion or bear, the object of danger, or the rod could be used on the sheep. If a sheep was continually wandering off and putting itself in danger, the shepherd may strike the sheep, even breaking its leg, to keep the sheep from being killed by a wild animal. The shepherd does not delight in hurting his sheep. But, it may be the most loving thing to do, and necessary to save the sheep’s life. If the shepherd has to break the sheep’s leg, the shepherd would lovingly bind the broken leg and then carry the sheep around his neck. Keeping the sheep close to him, was the shepherd’s protection and loving care. As quoted above from Isaiah 40 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart”.
The staff was a more gentle form of guiding sheep, keeping them on the right path, or lifting them over obstacles. The staff is the candy-cane shaped crook that we associate with shepherds. The shepherd must be close to the sheep to use this tool, and guides the sheep through difficult circumstances or darkened paths at night. The path remains the same. The path may be treacherous, dark, close to a cliff, or steep and rocky. The shepherd leads and guides the sheep down whatever path is necessary to get to the destination. The gentle nudge of the staff keeps sheep on the right track. Or, the staff may lift a sheep over an obstacle that is too high or difficult for the sheep to maneuver alone. We experience both the rod and staff at times. Both tools are used in love and protection for us. Sometimes in life we need a rod to break us of a sin of commission or omission and God causes pain to rescue us and bring us back into close fellowship with Him. Sometimes God uses a gentle prod of His word or a well spoken word from a friend to reveal changes we need to make. God is the good shepherd who loves us. He pursues us and rescues us from our own stubbornness and wrong choices.
Often times green pastures come after a steep rocky path. The best path might look like the most difficult path, but that’s the one the Good Shepherd is on with you!
Questions to think about:
Are you enjoying the tender care of the Good Shepherd?
Are you resting in the loving care and provision of the Shepherd who knows what you need? Or, what are the greener pastures you are pursuing?
Are you seeking the green pasture and quiet water of God’s word and Jesus’ grace? Or, where are you trying to find your contentment?
What does the path of your life look like right now? Are you on a steep rocky path or are you in the meadow? What evidence do you see of your Shepherd near you? What evidence do you see that you are listening to your Shepherd’s voice and following Him?