By Petey Prater
My mom and dad, newly weds in the early 1930’s, herded sheep on the windy South Dakota plains. Their tiny sheepherder’s wagon with rounded roof barely had room for a bed, a wood stove and a tiny eating area. Yet, when thunder and lightning crashed around them, the lack of space didn’t stop their goat from crashing through the screen-door and sliding under their bed. I doubt they lasted very long as shepherds.
The
main task of shepherds is to keep their sheep from becoming lunch for coyotes
or wild dogs. Eagles and ravens are also daring enough to swoop down and carry
newborn lambs away.
Shepherding
is lonely, dirty, hard work. It takes great courage and perseverance but
shepherds come to love their sheep. In Bible days the job fell to the youngest
son – no one else would do it. Shepherds didn’t sleep in wagons then, they just
rolled their bedroll out by the campfire, keeping rod and staff close at hand
as protection from wild animals.
Abraham,
Jacob, Moses, and David all were shepherds. As they tended sheep, God revealed
himself to these patriarchs of our faith. David’s faith in God grew strong
living alone in the hills. God made him Israel’s King and generations later,
Jesus, the Messiah, came from David’s family line. David called the Lord, his
“shepherd” in Psalm 23. John’s gospel and Psalm 23 tell us we also are sheep
needing Jesus’ care.
Jesus
said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just
as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the
sheep.” John 10:14,15 And “My
sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal
life, and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them out of my
hand. John 10:27,28
The
Good Shepherd “lays down His life for His sheep.” Jesus died to “give
me eternal life.” He promises
He knows me, loves me and will meet my needs – “I shall not want.” He
restores my soul” by healing my wounded body and broken, damaged emotions.
He will deliver me from all my enemies and lead me safely “through the
valley of the shadow of death.” And if that isn’t enough, Jesus covenants
with me that “I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever.” John 10;
Psalm 23
The
Lord is our Shepherd. Imagine that! Jesus, Creator Ruler, left Heaven to become
humbled shepherd for you and me. He loved us so much he died to lead us safely
to Father God. Incredible!
Is
Jesus our Shepherd? Will you join me in leaping over the fence to His pasture?
I want to be His lamb. Don’t you?
Loving
Good Shepherd, we return to you. Thank you for stepping down from Heaven’s
throne to search for us, loving us enough to claim us as your own. Teach us how
to follow. Amen.
Petey Prater writes from Beaverton, OR. peteyprater@yahoo.com