Sheep and shepherds were a big part of ancient Israel, the nation of whom God had said was “the flock of My pasture” Ezekiel 34:31, and His commitment to them through the prophet Isaiah was that He would “feed His flock like a shepherd” 40:11. Then in Psalm 100:3 they acknowledge that “we are His people and the sheep pasture.” The shepherd’s task was to lead the sheep to a place of rich pasture and water, to care for their needs, and to protect them from harm and danger, even at times confronting dangerous predators as David reiterates in 1 Samuel 17:34-36. As the shepherds of Israel give us a portrayal of God in the Old Testament caring for His people, so in the New Testament we see Jesus “the image of the invisible God” Colossians 1:15, saying to Philip “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” in John 15:9, and in John 10:11 He clearly said “I am the good shepherd.” Like the shepherd’s of Israel to the sheep, His mission to us is to lead us, feed us, care for our every need, to protect us from our predator, confronting him head on to deliver us from his grasp, even giving “His life for the sheep” John 10:11; indeed He paid the full penalty for our ransom which was His blood when He gave “Himself for our sins” Galatians 1:4. Not only for His original flock of Israel, but “other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” John 10:16. We who are Gentiles and not Israeli born are thus included for He “desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 1 Timothy 2:4. This requires our acceptance of, and our commitment to, Him. Will you reach out to Him today? John 1:11-13 promises acceptance into God’s family and flock to all that receive Him.
Jesus our Shepherd
By Rose Hill
Jesus is the shepherd that’s very good,
So we must follow Him the way we should.
Through every problem He wants to lead,
And to meet our every need.
He promised to be always near,
When following close His voice we hear.
Scripture quotations are from the New king James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.