The Shepherd
Sermon for 4/29/2001
Series on shepherding
Introduction:
When Joseph brought his father Jacob’s whole family down to Egypt during the famine, Pharaoh wanted to show kindness to them because of what Joseph had done for Egypt. When Pharaoh asked Israel and his family what they did for a living, Jacob answered that they were shepherds from their boyhood. Therefore, Pharaoh allowed them to settle in the region of Goshen, a certain distance from the palace, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.
God takes a job that is dirty, disgusting, and despised and makes it a model.
In the Old Testament, God would often refer to how well or how poorly the prophets; priests and kings shepherded his people Israel.
Jesus mentions a lot about shepherding and sheep.
How many of us are shepherds or have been shepherds?
How many of us have known full time shepherds?
How many of us have been around sheep on a regular basis?
What sound does a sheep make?
What kinds of products do sheep give to us? Wool, sheepskins, meat.
Thesis: To start this series on shepherding, we are going to have to learn about shepherding in Bible times.
For instances:
** Much of this information comes from Manners and Customs of Bible Lands by Fred Wight.
A. Let’s start with the shepherd and his tools.
1. Youngest boy often the shepherd.
a. As the older son grows up he transfers his energies from sheep raising to helping the father with sowing, plowing, and harvesting the crops, and passes on the shepherd’s task to the next younger boy.
b. The youngest of the family becomes the family shepherd because he has no one to pass it to.
c. This is what happened to David.
d. David, being the youngest of 8 sons, became the family shepherd.
e. When Samuel came to anoint a new king, David was no where to be found because he was the least and a shepherd. Kept away from people. Lonely existence.
2. The shepherd’s scrip.
a. A bag made of dried skin.
b. When he leaves home to go and tend the sheep, his mother would put food into this bag.
c. This is the bag that David used to store the five smooth stones when he went into battle with the giant Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.
d. Like a pouch that people hang around waist today.
3. The shepherd’s rod.
a. Like a policeman’s club.
b. It is often made of oak wood and has a knob on the end of it.
c. Useful for protection.
d. No doubt the rod that David used in protecting his sheep from wild animals, the lion and the bear.
4. The shepherd’s staff.
a. Stick five or six feet long and has a crook at the end of it.
b. Looks like a cane or walking stick
c. Useful in handling sheep
d. Use the end to draw them in. Like the stick they use to yank people off of the stage.
5. Sling.
a. Simple, composed of two string of rope or leather, and a receptacle of leather to receive the stone.
b. Swung a time or two around the head and then was discharged by letting go of one of the strings.
c. Use this against wild animals and robbers.
d. Also handy in directing the sheep. A stone could be dropped close to a sheep that was lagging behind and startle it into coming along with the rest of the flock.
e. Stone could be dropped just beyond the sheep to scare him back to the flock if he was wandering away.
f. David used a sling to slay the might giant Goliath.
g. Being a shepherd, David knew how to handle a sling. David had great faith in God and courage, but he also had skill. Many other people in Israel’s army were skilled with the sling, but none had the faith and courage of David.
h. A sling would be the equivalent of a low power rifle. A stone from a sling was known to penetrate trees to over an inch. With accuracy, it was deadly.
6. Flute.
a. Music soothes the savage beast, and the hearts of the sheep.
b. It was also good to keep the shepherd entertained and encouraged.
c. David became a great musician out with the sheep. Alone with God.
d. The word Psalm can be translated as a song played on a pipe or flute.
B. Let’s look at the shepherd and his care for the flock.
1. Food planned.
a. In the springtime an abundance of green pastures.
b. After the grain is reaped, and the poor have an opportunity to glean what is left for them, then the shepherd brings in his flock, and allows them to graze on what is left in the fields.
c. In the summer, when the grass turns into hay because of the heat, this becomes food for the sheep.
d. In the autumn or winter months, there are no suitable pastures, so the shepherd is responsible for feeding the animals himself. If the flock is small there may be times when it is stabled with the house, and the family lives on a floor above the stable.
2. Water provided for the flock.
a. Water must be near by and easily accessible.
b. Often flocks are stationed near to a stream of running water.
c. However, sheep are afraid of drinking water that moves too quickly, or that is stirred up. Therefore, the shepherd looks for pools of water, or provides some quiet place where they can quench their thirst.
d. In summer time, wells are used. Noontime is usually the time for watering the sheep.
e. Jacob at the well and Rachel…
C. The shepherd and the sheepfold.
1. A simple sheepfold.
a. Made when a shepherd is a distance from home or in the mountains.
b. A temporary shelter that can be easily taken down when moving to another location.
c. A temporary fence is built of thorn bushes or rocks to keep the sheep close to the shelter.
d. This is all the protection that is needed, as the shepherds often sleep with their flocks when the weather permits.
2. Sheepfolds with a cave.
a. The cave is the shelter.
b. A temporary fence is built around the cave entrance to keep the sheep close to the cave.
c. David in the wilderness and King Saul…
3. More permanent sheepfolds.
a. Kind of like a deer stand, more permanent.
b. Built in a great location…
c. Jesus made mention of sheepfolds in John 10.
D. The shepherd and traveling with the sheep.
1. Several flocks sometimes allowed mixing.
a. More than one flock may be kept in the same fold. Shepherds may want some time together.
b. Often flocks are mixed while being watered at a well.
c. Jacob at the well… three folds of sheep.
2. Ability to separate the sheep.
a. When it becomes necessary to separate several flocks of sheep, one shepherd after another will stand up and call out his special call.
b. The sheep will lift up their heads, and after a little scramble, they begin following each one his own shepherd.
c. They are thoroughly familiar with their own shepherd’s tone and quality of voice. A stranger can use the same call but the sheep will not follow him.
3. Gathering scattered sheep.
a. When moving about, the sheep from time to time became scattered.
b. The shepherd uses his call again and the sheep all gather around him.
c. Sling is used to gather stubborn or sheep that do not pay attention.
d. The shepherd will not leave his spot until all the sheep are gathered to him, unless they are not all there…
E. The intimate relationship between the shepherd and the sheep.
1. Giving names to the sheep.
a. Jesus said that he calls his sheep by name.
b. The eastern shepherd delights to give names to certain of his sheep, and if his flock is not too large, all of his sheep have names.
2. Guidance for the sheep.
a. The shepherd in Bible times never drives his sheep as do Western shepherds today.
b. The shepherd is in front of his sheep leading them.
c. This does not mean that he is always in front of the sheep. Usually he is, but sometimes walks side by side, sometimes follows behind to get any stragglers.
d. Anyone too far away from the sheep flock is in danger of being eaten by wild animals or stolen.
3. Straying sheep restored.
a. Sheep away from the flock are helpless. Have no defense.
b. 99 sheep and one…
4. Playing with the sheep.
a. Life as a shepherd is monotonous.
b. To have fun the shepherd will play with his sheep.
c. He does this by pretending to run away from his sheep, much like hide and seek, and they will soon overtake him, and completely surround him, roughhousing with great delight.
5. Intimate knowledge of the sheep.
a. Many shepherds do not need to count the sheep, because he knows each one by name. If one is missing, he notices it.
b. He knows each sheep’s personality and markings and family lines, etc.
c. The shepherd is there for all the events of the sheep’s life.
d. Jesus said that he knows his sheep.
6. The difference between the shepherd and the hireling.
a. If a flock becomes too large, it become necessary to hire help from time to time.
b. One man can usually handle 50 to 100 sheep. Over 100 and he must have regular help.
c. The hireling does not usually have the personal interest in the sheep that the shepherd has, and so cannot always be trusted to defend the flock in the way the shepherd himself would do.
d. Not like David who fought off lion or bear.
F. The shepherd and caring for sheep in special times of need.
1. Crossing a stream of water.
a. The shepherd leads the way into the water and across the stream.
b. The sturdy sheep keep hard by the shepherd, plunge boldly into the water, and are soon across.
c. Others of the flock enter the stream with hesitation and alarm.
d. Sheep do miss the fording place and are carried down the river a distance, but most clamber ashore and hurry to find the flock.
e. The little lambs follow their mothers into the water. Some manage to get across, but if one is swept away, then the shepherd leaps quickly into the stream and rescues it, carrying it in his breast to the shore.
f. When they all arrive over the stream and together, the lambs bay with joy, and the sheep will gather around their shepherd as if to express their thankfulness to him.
2. Special care of baby lambs, and the sheep with young ones.
a. When lambing time comes, the shepherd must take great care of his flock.
b. Many times necessary to move to a new location.
c. The waiting mothers are kept close to the shepherd while moving.
d. Little lambs that cannot keep up with the rest of the flock are carried in the bosom of the shepherd.
3. Care of sick or wounded sheep.
a. Shepherd is always on lookout for sheep that are having problems.
b. Scratches and sunburn, etc.
c. Olive oil is used to soothe and heal wounds.
d. You anoint my head with oil.
4. Protection of sheep from robbers and wild animals.
a. Robbers were a common problem.
b. Take a few sheep here and there.
c. Wild animals like lions and bears were common.
d. Good shepherd risked his life for sheep. Jesus Christ…
Conclusion:
A. Jesus said that we are all like sheep.
B. The Lord is my shepherd.
C. I am the good shepherd.
D. Make his your shepherd today before it is too late.
