Sheep. Timid animals that need direction and protection. The keeper of a flock of sheep is called a shepherd.
While in Arizona last week, we were on our way to an animal rescue reserve when we happened upon Jerome, an old copper mining town built into the sides of Cleopatra Hill overlooking the Verde Valley. It is located in the Black Hills of Yavapai County and was founded in the late 19th century. We changed our plans and enjoyed the day walking around this small town. At one point we entered a historic tire manufacturer turned artist’s gallery. Inside, the old warehouse was sectioned off into separate displays. One of the sections had two exhibits, glass blowing on one wall, clay figurines on the other. It was incredible to see examples of the creativity God has endowed to certain individuals! As we walked out of the stall, I couldn’t help but notice a sign posted that had big arrows pointing to each side that read, ‘the religious views on the that side don’t reflect the views on this side ’. Wow, you could immediately feel the tension that must be going on. We walked farther into the building and found the same clay figures we had seen earlier with handwritten scripture displayed throughout. I had the opportunity to speak to the owner and it was sad to hear of the tension going on between different artists. In an adjoining section, beautiful clay forms had been sculpted depicting scenes from the Bible. Although spiritual warfare was present, Truth was shining and God was protecting his ambassadors with His care. It was fun to be able to encourage the owner to keep on keeping on. I was given permission to use the photos I took of his wife’s original artwork for my blog. I would have loved to purchase a large piece of art but settled on a small sheep as I thought of God’s tender care for us as the Great Shepherd of our souls.
In Ezekiel chapter 34, God reprimands those who were to care for the nation of Israel. The Levite priests had become more interested in their own welfare and advancement rather than taking the time and energy involved in truly shepherding God’s people. As God puts forth His judgment on those who ceased to acknowledge Him, He also gives His promise that He will take care of His flock.
Eze 34:11-16a. 11[a] For thus says the Lord GOD, [b]"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 "And 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[a] "I will feed them in a good pasture, [b] and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down in good grazing ground, and they will 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. 16a "I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick;
Eze 34:11a For thus says the Lord GOD,
This is God’s answer to those who had been unfaithful to care for His people and His promise to those who had been neglected.
Eze 34:11b Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
“the construction is emphatical in the Hebrew and well expressed here; I, the Owner, the Lover, the Maker, the great Shepherd, even I, who committed them to your care, never submitted them to your rapine and cruelty, am as angry with you for devouring them as I am zealous for their welfare.” Matthew Poole’s Commentary
God Himself will search for His children. He will pursue you, He will seek after you, He will care for you!
Consider. The Lord God will not let His children stay lost! Just as a shepherd gathers and guides the sheep, God will be certain to account for each of His children.
Eze 34:12 "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.
What does it mean to care for someone? WordWeb gives us the following ideas of this meaning: to have a fondness for, to be attached to, to cherish, hold dear, treasure. And these descriptions are only what man can perceive. Imagine how much more a holy and perfect God cares for those He loves! We truly are never alone. We may feel lost but we are not lost to God if we’re His children. Even in situations where we seem to be the only ones promoting Truth, God has His hand on us, caring for us.
“As a shepherd doth gently gather them together, counteth them, brings them to the fold, views what they have suffered, whether lame or torn, and binds up, and healeth; if any are wanting, he looks till he findeth them, and brings them back; so will I, saith the Lord. If the shepherd find the wolf or lion among them or near them, he will either kill or drive him away; so will God …” Matthew Poole’s Commentary
I love that we have a descriptive text of the extent that a shepherd would go to care for the flock in 1Samuel 17:34-35. But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
As I was searching to find insight on the words ‘cloudy and gloomy day’ in Ezekiel 34:12, I was led to all spectrums of interpretation. The words themselves mean what they say. One commentary said it referred to ‘the day of their affliction and misery’. Another seemed to associate this phrase with ‘times of general distress and persecution’. Then I was led to scripture with the same overtone.
Zep 1:15 A day of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Joe 2:2 A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, so there is a great and mighty people; there has never been anything like it, nor will there be again after it to the years of many generations.
The cloudy day; when the storm first began to arise from abroad or at home; here in persecutions, there in warlike preparations. Dark day; that the land was invaded till the desolation of Jerusalem, the times of maladministration of their own governors, and violent irruption of their enemies. Matthew Poole’s Commentary
We’ll concentrate on what is certain – we are under the perfect protection of God. Now and in the future. When things seem at their worse, we need not despair or fear. We have a Shepherd who will not let us be devoured by anything sinister. Even in the darkest, gloomiest of times, we have a light to guide us safely through the storm.
Eze 34:13 And 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.
Jer 23:3-4 "Then I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and shall bring them back to their pasture; and they will be fruitful and multiply. "I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
We may not be led back to the land of Canaan as the Israelite nation was, but the promise to care for us remains true. God will provide for us, He will feed us, He will preserve us for His purposes, He will sustain us, He will defend and protect us and He will care for us in every conceivable way. Sheep are timid and defenseless. They are readily preyed upon. A person who is sheepish is usually vulnerable and follows along rather than stand strong. God knows His children need to be cared for. And He has given His promise that He will Shepherd us. This is truly amazing if you stop to consider who we are and who He is. God continues to lay out His promises to the Israelite nation in Ezekiel 34:14.
Eze 34:14a I will feed them in a good pasture
feed <ra’ah> to tend a flock; pasture it; generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend) …
good <towb> as an adverb (well): beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease; … graciously, joyful, kindly, loving
God will rule His own and graciously tend to them. And this is not just throwing food and water to us as you might tend an animal. If you are His child, you will be able to look back at the countless times God has guided you through difficulty. Even foolish decisions we have been allowed to make, have been turned into times of learning and growing in our understanding of Him and for His glory. My husband and I were revisiting the years leading up to our meeting and it is so clear that God was directing both of our paths towards each other as we followed Him. We were both saved through divorces neither of us chose. We were baptized the same day, same place, same church albeit unknown to us. He was praying for a family to lead, I was praying for a leader, a husband and dad to my young children. I could go back even further into our history but for the sake of length I won’t. Coincidence or Providence: “the guardianship and control exercised by a deity”? I believe that none of the events, or timing, were accidental! I challenge you to take the time to recognize God’s shepherding in your life.
There are no coincidences! A coincidence is defined as, “An event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental” (WordWeb). However, there is a God-ordained plan for our lives and it is full of circumstances purposefully arranged in order to bring glory to Himself. God allows and even determines the times of dark and cloudy days.
Consider. When circumstances are difficult whether by your own doing or another’s, don’t you learn to appreciate even more the times of quiet and rest? Each relationship and each condition God has put in your path, has allowed you to learn something. That’s called being shepherded by a tender, all-knowing, merciful and perfect Father in Heaven.
Ezekiel 34:14b-15 goes on to paint a picture in detail how God will care for His people: and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down in good grazing ground, and they will 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.
Ps 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
Consider. God provides all that we need to grow physically and spiritually. Are you eating in His good grazing grounds, are you resting in His rich pastures?
Isa 40:11 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.
Jer 31:25 "For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes."
Joh 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Consider. Does God at any point in time forget His children who have wandered away? Or leave behind those who have been misled? What happens to those who are broken-hearted or seemingly destroyed? Are the weak and afflicted cast aside never to be remembered by Him?
Eze 34:16a I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick;
Isa 40:11 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.]
Mt 18:11-14 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Thus it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Sheep: A timid defenseless simpleton who is readily preyed upon; a docile and vulnerable person who would rather follow than make an independent decision. WordWeb
“Sheep have little ability to defend themselves; Even if sheep survive an attack, they may die from their injuries or simply from panic.” “The illustration [of the Good Shepherd] encompasses many ideas, including God’s care for his people. The tendency of humans to put themselves into danger’s way and their inability to guide and take care of themselves apart from the direct power and leading of God …” Wikipedia (sheep/shepherd)
Most of us have heard or read Psalm 23. Matthew Henry’s Commentary says, “It is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God’s great goodness and dependence upon Him”.
Ps 23. (A Psalm of David.) 1 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 Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast 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.
God is our Shepherd. In Him we find peace and guidance. He will comfort us when we are fearful or in distress. We can calmly walk forward through all circumstances in His care. We can be brave when surrounded by evil. God is sovereign, He has conquered sin and gives to His sheep a hope that will never die. We are able to find complete satisfaction in His provision. He promises His goodness and mercy shall follow each step we take.
Sheep. Timid, defenseless creatures. But, with Christ as their Shepherd, they are brave and completely protected from harm as they are led on a path of righteousness through His mercy and in His grace to an everlasting hope of His presence forevermore.
