Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing God Through His Roles & Titles

Shepherd  (Sphere of Education)

To Study and Ponder

• Spend time meditating on the following passages which speak of God as a shepherd: Gen 49:24; Psa 23:1-6; 28:9; 80:1-2; Isa 40:11; Jer 30:10-11; Eze 34:11-23,31; 37:24; Zec 13:7; Mat 2:6; 25:31-46; 26:31-32; Mar 14:27-28; Joh 10:1-16; Heb 13:20 1Pe 2:25; 5:4; Rev 7:17.

• Middle Eastern cultures understood what good shepherding was about - feeding lambs and sheep, bringing them to good pasture lands and water, grooming and clipping them, delivering new lambs, leading them, teaching them to stay together, going off after the wandering lost ones, and protecting the sheep in the field and in the fold. To understand God’s heart as a shepherd it is helpful to learn more about shepherds in the Middle East.

• In Jesus’ day, shepherds either wandered from place to place and lived in tents, or lived in villages. Peasant shepherds who lived in a village had the right to let their flocks feed in the pastures near the village. When food supplies got scarce, they would move their herds to higher pastures in the hot summer or to warmer valleys in the winter.

• Life was often difficult for shepherds who spent most of their time outside watching over the herd and often slept near their flock to protect it from robbers and wild animals. At night, they gathered their flocks into places called sheepfolds. These could be stone walls made by the shepherds or natural enclosures like a cave. Shepherds counted their flocks when they came into the fold at night by separating the sheep from the goats with a walking stick. They counted them again in the morning when they left for the pastures.

• A flock often included both sheep and goats. Sheep are timid animals that need constant protection. Goats are harder to handle than sheep, because they like to climb up the rocky hillsides. Sheep produce wool for clothing and meat for special meals. Many sheep were also used for sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem. It is likely that some of the sheep in the fields near Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth were intended to be offered as temple sacrifices on one of the important Jewish festivals. (American Bible Society:Bible Resources: search “shepherd’. http://www.americanbible.org)

• Do a google search for pictures and more background information

• God is pictured as a tender, compassionate Shepherd, a model for all who lead & teach:

• He will feed his flock like a shepherd.He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. Isaiah 40:11

• But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness. Psalm 78:52-3a (Also Psalm 23; Psalm100:3-4)

• Meditate on Jesus’ heart for us shown in the story of a shepherd searching for a lost sheep. (Read Luke 15:3-7) He identified with shepherds, even though it was a lowly occupation, calling himself the Good Shepherd who would sacrifice his life for his sheep (John 10:11-16)

• God promises the things that a good shepherd was expected to provide, in the natural & spiritual.

1. Food & water:-He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Ps.23:2

• So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? ... your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matt.6:31-33

• But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. John 4:14

1. Care & protection:- The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. Jn.10:11

• Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

• Just as one of the characteristics of a Middle Eastern shepherd was his personal knowledge of his sheep, so we have a shepherd who knows and wants relationship with us. I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. Jn.10:14-15

• As the sheep knew the sound of their shepherd’s voice, so our God wants us to hear His voice: “At the first sound of his call, which is usually a peculiar guttural sound, hard to imitate, the flock follow off to new feeding-grounds. Even should two shepherds call their flocks at the same time and the sheep be intermingled, they never mistake their own master's voice.” (http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/S/SHEPHERD/) Read what Jesus says John 10:3-5 ...the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ....he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.(v3b,4b)

• God spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1:1); throughout the OT He spoke to men in visions, through angels, prophets, in an audible voice, out of storms and sent Jesus the WORD. (John 1:1-14) God has not changed, He still speaks – through His word, through others, and directly to our hearts and minds. In order to hear we need to LISTEN, to learn to recognize His voice - to be still and practice listening! Click for a list of resources on hearing God’s voice.

• Those who lead are asked to take care of others as a shepherd - to do for the ‘sheep’ as Jesus the Good Shepherd does. (1Pe.5:1-4) God punished shepherds who did not look after the people. Hear God’s heart in Ezekiel 34, a prophetic outcry against the shepherds(leaders) of Israel “who took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve.” v.8.(see also Je. 23:1-4)

• Several passages of Scripture refer to people as “sheep without a shepherd” who need guidance, protection, caring oversight. (Num 27:17; 1Ki 22:17; 2Ch 18:16; Isa 13:14; Eze 34:5; Mat 9:36; Mar 6:34). The prophet says that such people are “easy prey for any wild animal” (Eze 34:5). God’s response to the unscrupulous leaders that are preying on his people is, “I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey” (Eze 34:10). Who preys upon sheep? Elsewhere this is the language used to describe the work of false teachers (Col 2:8) and false apostles (2Co 11:20). How does God rescue sheep who are being preyed upon? The key is found in the gospel account. We are told by Matthew that Jesus, “had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mat 9:36). What was his solution to their confusion? Mark goes on to explain, “So he began teaching them many things” (Mark 6:34). Godly kingdom teaching is the loving act of a good shepherd concerned for his confused sheep.

Meditation/Memory:

Lower Grades: I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15 (NLT)

I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. John 10:16 (NLT)

He will feed his flock like a shepherd.He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. Isaiah 40:11 (NLT)

Middle Grades: Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!  Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his.  We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Psalm 100:1-3 (NLT)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.  Psalm 100:4-5 (NLT)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  John 10:27-29 (NLT)

Upper Grades:

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.                                                                             Psalm 23 (NLT)