Sheep Of His Pasture

One of the commands we’re given most throughout the Bible is to “be not afraid.” Over and over, God exhorts us to be fearless! Proverbs 28:1 says,

Proverbs 28:1 says,

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

This comparison to a lion makes sense when expressing the idea of fearlessness! However, much more often throughout the word of God, we are compared to … sheep. I’m not sure how much you know about sheep, but as I was reading about them this week, I was less than impressed.

Sheep are surprisingly unintelligent, physically feeble, and have absolutely no sense of direction. If a sheep gets flipped onto its back, it can’t get back up and will die that way without a rescuer.

If you aren’t convinced yet of a sheep’s helplessness, look up the news story about a flock of sheep in Turkey in 2005. While the shepherds were having their breakfast, one unfortunate sheep walked off the cliff, and was then followed by the entirety of the herd. 1,500 sheep walked right off a cliff, one after another, just because the first sheep took a wrong turn.

Why on earth, then, does God compare us to sheep? Look at just a few examples:

Psalm 78:52: “Then He led out his people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”

Psalm 79:13: “But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.’

Isaiah 53:6: “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.”

Jeremiah 23:1: ‘“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.’

Matthew 9:36: “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

These are just a few examples, but I could have gone on!

Why does the Lord compare us to sheep? There are a few reasons, but I believe it’s primarily because of the fascinating way that sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. Unlike any other livestock, a sheep responds only to its shepherd’s commands.

Matthew 25:31-33 says,

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.

The thing that separates a sheep from a goat is its ability to recognize and respond to the voice of its shepherd! Sheep aren’t intelligent, but they’re very good at being led. This comparison to sheep isn’t meant to demean us, but to highlight our absolute dependency on Jesus.

John 10 is the greatest exposition of this truth in the Bible.

John 10:2-5 says,

“He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To Him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know His voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

John 10:11-13 says,

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd.”

If you’ve ever felt pressured or burdened, the truth that you are a sheep will set you free! Sheep are not beasts of burden. They’re not meant to carry heavy loads or traverse long distances. They’re not made to fight. The only thing that keeps a sheep safe is its proximity to its shepherd.

Sheep are absolutely and completely dependent.

Sheep don’t protect themselves.

Sheep don’t worry about their provision.

Sheep don’t try to figure out where they’re going.

Sheep simply recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow.

That’s what it’s like to walk with Jesus. God’s people are set apart from the rest of humanity simply by our ability to hear His voice and obey. We’re set apart simply by being His flock.

When Jesus commissioned the twelve apostles in ministry, giving them authority over darkness and a mandate for the kingdom, He still compared them to sheep. Even as they were sent out in power, He reminded them of their dependency. Matthew 10:16 says,

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and
innocent as doves.”

There is no greater commission we have but to become familiar with the sound of our shepherd’s voice. We were all created to recognize the voice of our Shepherd! Hebrews 13:20 says,

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This week, I encourage you to rest in the simple truth that you are a sheep! Learn to recognize the sound of His voice, to trust Him and obey. He loves you. He’ll care for you. He’ll lead and protect you! Learn to follow and stay close to Him. That’s the call of a sheep!

Psalm 23:1-4:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

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