The imagery of God as our shepherd appears quite frequently in the Bible. You have probably heard numerous biblical references with that image, such as the beloved Psalm 23, which begins with “The Lord is my shepherd.” But do you know what it means?
In first-century Palestine, shepherding was a common profession, but in the twenty-first century, it is rare. And most Christians have little to no knowledge of the role and duties of a shepherd.
It was certainly true for me. All I knew about shepherds was that they kept sheep and moved them. With this minimal knowledge of shepherding, I didn’t fully appreciate the significance of Jesus being my good shepherd as the original audience of the Bible did.
Therefore, I decided to study the profession of a shepherd in biblical times. But before I get into that, you need to know something about sheep.
They are dumb.
A sheep can do nothing on its own except get into trouble. It can walk straight into danger and blindly follow other sheep off a cliff (true story). Without someone guiding them, sheep are utterly helpless. But they are also precious. Families depended on sheep for their living because they provided meat, wool, and sheepskin. Consequently, someone had to care for the sheep and thus came shepherds or sheepherders.
It is one of the oldest professions in the world. It began with Abel and continued throughout the biblical narrative with men like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David.
Here is how these men cared for their sheep and how Jesus, who is the good shepherd, tends to us.
Direction
A sheep cannot find a specific place on its own. If they leave the flock, they will roam and get lost. So a shepherd has to direct them. He led his flock by walking in front of them, beside them or behind them. And he carried a long staff that he sometimes used to ward straying sheep off dangerous paths.
Shepherds also led their sheep by speaking to them. Sheep have a good memory and can remember the face or voice of their shepherd. Once they know and trust a shepherd, they follow him wherever he calls them. And if a stranger calls, they will not follow him.
Jesus also gives us direction. He calls us into a saving knowledge of Him and guides us with His Word. Without His guidance, we are directionless like sheep. (Matthew 9:36)
He said in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them from my hand.”
Provision
Sheep are grazing animals. Their diet consists of grass and other pasture plants that were not readily available around the pen. Hence a shepherd was responsible for providing their food. He searched in advance for good quality pasture and led his flock to it. He also directed his sheep to still waters so they could drink. (sheep are afraid of moving waters). And when the sheep were well fed and watered, they laid down and rest.
David beautifully illustrated a shepherd’s provision of food, water, and rest for his sheep in Psalm 23:1-3 and likened it to God’s care for us. Like a shepherd, Jesus meets all of our needs and gives us rest.
He said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” And, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (John 6:35, Matthew 11:28-29)
Protection
In addition to watching his flock, a shepherd also guarded them. Sheep are defenseless animals. They don’t have strength, speed, claws, or cunning to defend themselves against predators. They relied on a shepherd to protect them from threats. So shepherds carried rods with them, which is a “sturdy stick with a knob at one end.” They used it to defend the flock from wild beasts like wolves, coyotes, and in some cases, bears and lions (1 Samuel 17:34-35).
Shepherds also protected sheep from human threats. Thieves often tried luring sheep away by pretending to be shepherds or tried stealing them. They climbed the wall of the pen, slit the throat of the sheep, threw them off the wall, and ran away with them.
Consequently, after the shepherd brought his sheep in the pen at night, He laid in front of the entrance to guard them. He willingly risked his life to protect his flock from danger.
Jesus is our good shepherd who interposed His life to save us from death.
He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:7-11)
Restoration
Sheep are easily led astray and prone to wander away from the flock. When that happens, the sheep won’t find its way back to the flock. And outside of the shepherd’s care, a sheep is incredibly vulnerable and won’t survive long. However, shepherds left no sheep behind. When one of his fold got lost, a shepherd left his flock in another’s care, and he looked for the lost sheep. He didn’t stop looking until he found the sheep.
The Bible consistently states that we are prone to wander away from the faith like sheep from the flock (Isaiah 53:6 1 Timothy 6:10; 20-21, James 5:19-20, 1 Peter 2:25). But Jesus, our good shepherd, and overseer of our souls, always find us when we wander off the path of righteousness and restores us.
He illustrated that in the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:4-6. And He said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Psalm 95:6-7
Jesus is our God, and we are the people of His pasture. As our good shepherd, He loves us, knows us and calls us by name. Though He may lead us through the valley of the shadow of death, He is always with us. His guidance, provision, protection, and restoration will follow us all the days of our lives.
We are always safe in the Shepherd’s care.
