Jeremiah 29:11 ​  

                 Prayerline

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                                                                                                       The Good Shepherd

Father, l thank thee for your love, grace, and mercy. 

My Watch for the last few Watches has come out of experiences earlier in the week.  It started with a Bible study in my home on the Wednesday prior to the Watch.  We were studying the Gospel of John and I was recapturing what John was telling about the coming Messiah (John 1:9-14).  When Jesus came into the River Jordon (actually in Bethabara beyond Jordan) to be baptized, he announced, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”  (John 1:29).  So I began to look deeper into lamb – sheep - shepherd relationship.  God had me to look into Psalm 23.  All of us have studied Psalm 23 and shepherds but like delving into the Word of God. It’s not like yesterday’s newspaper it’s like today’s newspaper:  fresh with new revelation.

Lambs (the young), even sheep (the old), are defenseless, helpless, and venerable and are in need of a shepherd for protection.  Shepherds were needed in the days of Jesus; it was a worthy occupation.  In our times now, we hear less and less about herding of sheep, lambs or shepherding.  Perhaps it’s because of the world we live in…the world of machinery and technology.  But in Jesus’ day, sheep were always under the watchful eye of a shepherd.

The Good Shepherd had to defend their sheep from sudden natural environmental dangers such as cliffs, waterfalls, and running waters.  Sheep need to be by still waters. (Psalm 23:2b.) So this shepherd looks after the sheep, and will even lay down his life for his sheep.  There were other dangers such as lions and wolves, and from wandering off from the watchful eye and protection of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus is our example of the Good Shepherd.  Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”  John 3:16 tells us that the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  “For God so loved the world,  that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  This Sinless Lamb, Jesus, took on the sins of the world, for He, only He, could reestablish that relationship between God and man.  God gave His only Son, Jesus; then Jesus gave his very life to take away the sins of the world; then He gave us His Word, the Bible, our guidebook to living an peaceful life on earth; then He gave us the Holy Spirit; and then He gave us earthly shepherds. 

WE, like the sheep in the days of old, are vulnerable to ravenous wolves in our lifetime.  Matthew 7:15 tells us explicitly to, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”  In verse 23, Jesus says to this group, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”   These wolves can deprive you, among other things, of your finances, peace, and fail to teach you from the guidebook, the Bible.

It is very important that you choose carefully who you select for your earthly shepherd; one who will not lead you astray; one who will teach you from the Bible, God’s Holy Word.  Jesus’ life is a pattern of love and forgiveness for us to follow.  Hebrews 13:20, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.  This is what a shepherd does according to Psalm 78:52-55:  “But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.  And he led them in the wilderness like a flock.  And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.  And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.  He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.  And finally, Psalm 79:13, as a tribute to our Shepherd who is constantly looking out for us, “So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever:  we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.”