Character profile: The Lord is my Shepherd
Lately, the Lord has been revealing different sides to His character to me. A few weeks ago during my quiet time I felt compelled to study the profile of Christ as our 'Shepherd' and thought I would share it with you.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10 v 14-15 (ESV)
Throughout both the Old and New Testament, shepherds are mentioned around sixty times in reference to characters, metaphors and parables. The most frequently used is of course Psalm 23, 'The Lord is my Shepherd', but what really challenged me was how perfunctory the statement had become. (The definition of the word “perfunctory” is to merely perform as a routine, lacking interest, care or enthusiasm, to be indifferent and apathetic.) So, I wanted to understand the term 'Shepherd' in order to inject some passion back into something which clearly has significance into understanding how we are meant to relate to Jesus.
What is the definition of a Shepherd?
- A person who tends and rears sheep.
- Someone who guides or directs in a particular direction
What are the duties of a shepherd?
1. To move his flock safely from one place to another.
All through scripture, we are told that the Lord will guide us, his word as a lamp to our path, we listen for his voice and await instruction. “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30 v 21 (NLT) You can see this in action by looking at Moses when the Lord directed him which eventually led to the deliverance of Israel out of captivity and into the promised land.
2. He brings them out to graze then leads them back to shelter.
Jesus feeds us daily with his word, just like in the wilderness when the bread fell from heaven, Jesus said, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4v4. An interesting fact of shepherding is that they lead their sheep onto rough pasture, usually on the heights of a mountain to feed. This can be seen in the transfiguration “Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.” Matthew 17 v1. When Christ is leading us up a mountain, it’s tough!! We are tired, beaten down, weary, thirsty and hungry for him to strengthen us. When you are in the middle of a trial, you are so dependent on Him, you are weak and vulnerable, you can't see straight, your mind is clouded with worries and anxieties, it helps to have someone directing you to green pastures when we so often look about and see only dry barren land. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5v6
3. He is to protect them against wolves and predators.
A sheep is entirely defenceless, it has no way of protecting itself and is totally dependent on the Shepherd to guard them against predators. My favourite passage when I’m hemmed in at all sides and need assurance that Jesus will protect me is Psalm 91. Verse 14 says “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.” It also says he will ‘shelter, cover, shield, rescue, hold you up and will command His angels to guard you’. Another name for God is ‘Lord of the angel armies’, He is the chief commander of the greatest and most powerful army that has ever existed and Psalm 91 says He will send them as back up to protect you! How awesome! Not only that, but in Psalm 121, it says that “he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” – He is constantly watching over us and protecting us!
4. He keeps them from eating poisonous plants and fruits.
Every forager/adventurist will have a guide to identify what is and isn’t edible in the wild. In Galatians 5 we read about what is good and bad fruit for us, “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies” vs “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” The Holy Spirit helps us to discern what is good fruit and bad fruit. If you picture eating something that has passed its expiry date, you feel the direct impact it has in your body, you feel sick and weary. The same can be said about eating spiritual fruit, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7v18-19.
5. He marks and identifies his sheep
A shepherd will mark his sheep to distinguish them from other flocks. In the same way, God has marked us with his Holy Spirit and set us apart from the world. “He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by putting His seal upon us and giving us His Holy Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and guarantee of the fulfilment of His promise.” 2 Corinthians 1v22
6. He herds his sheep
The definition of herd is: ‘A group of cattle or other domestic animals of a single kind kept together for a specific purpose.’ Jesus herds us and keeps us together as His body on earth, to be His hands and feet. “We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2v10. He has a plan and a purpose for us as His herd and has planned specific tasks and jobs that only you can do In this life, we can only know what these tasks are by listening to our Shepherd
7. To perform first aid and or emergency treatment to injured sheep.
We all know what it is like to be wounded, broken and hurt. This can be through a multitude of things, either caused by yourself or others. Jesus as our shepherd is here to heal you of your wounds both spiritual and physical. “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 127v3. God also restores us from spiritual death and resurrects us into new life, “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3v18.
As depicted above, we can see the role of a Shepherd is multi-faceted, it has many sides and qualities the most prominent of those is that He is trustworthy. We, in our human nature, have a habit of going our own way, going off the beaten track, separating ourselves from the safety of the flock and getting lost. Jesus said “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue” Luke 15v4-7 (MSG)
Thankfully we serve a God who relentlessly searches and chases after us until we are back in the safety of His flock, under the governance of His leadership and direction. If you are wandering off the beaten track and need help from the Shepherd, He promises “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.” Psalm 91v15.
Isn’t he just amazing? Thank you Lord for being our Shepherd!
Danielle Gault