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The Lord My Shepherd Is
The entire meaning of service to Christ is understood in whether or not we follow Him. His is our leader, the One we must follow. In the 10th chapter of John’s gospel, verses 1-16, there is a beautiful picture of what is involved in following Christ. It is shown by comparing Christ–our Leader–to the Palestinian shepherd.
The main part of Judea is a central plateau region, stretching about 35 miles from Bethel to Hebron, and is about 11 miles wide. The soil in this area is shallow, rocky and the weather of the semi-arid variety. It is more a pastoral than an agricultural region, and so is far more suited for sheep and goats than for crops of cotton, corn, or grains. At the time of Jesus’ parable the shepherd was a central figure in the Jewish economy and, as such, was a familiar sight in the uplands of Judea.
The shepherd’s duties were almost never-ending ones and were performed in both summer and winter, regardless of the inclemency of the weather. There was also the ever-present danger of thieves (who “crept in unaware” and stole), robbers (who took the sheep by force), and the ravenous wild animals who invaded the flock and took their toll also.
To be a good shepherd required courage, vigilance, patience, and above all, and abiding love for the flock.
The shepherd became so intimately acquainted with his sheep that he called them by name. Contrary to some areas, the Palestinians raised sheep primarily for wool, not for meat. Such being the case, the sheep stayed with the shepherd for sometimes a number of years. They came to know the voice of their leader and would respond to no other. In fact, when a stranger spoke to them they would oftentimes bolt off in alarm and scatter around until such a time as their own master’s voice brought them back together again. They knew His voice.
The sheep were totally dependent on the shepherd. Sheep, you know, are led, not driven. It is to the shepherd they looked for food, for it is his responsibility to “pastor” (cf. “pasture’) them. Without his leadership and provisions, the flock would become scattered divided, sickly, and separated. His provisions also included the sheep fold in which there was protection, safety and security.
Furthermore, the shepherd carefully and lovingly looked after his sheep. He became constantly concerned and interested in their welfare. Each day the sheep had to “pass under the rod” (Cf. Ezekiel 20:37) as they entered the sheep fold. At that time each sheep was carefully examined to ascertain whether or not injury or harm had been sustained during that day’s activities.
The sheep were constantly chastised by the shepherd. He would call sharply to them from time to time. This did two things. First, it kept them together in the same general area and prevented them from absent-minded straying to some place where harm might come to them. Secondly, it reassured them of the continued presence of their leader, this giving them confidence. In this way, they learned to put their complete trust in him.
Now that we have given the antecedency to the occasion of John’s account, turn and read again John 10:1-16.
What a picture! How true it is that Jesus Christ is the true Shepherd! Notice how He is imminently qualified to wear such a title. Notice His love, His watchful care of us, His voice sounding out to us. Notice how He constantly feeds and nurtures us. Notice His loving chastisement, as He causes each of us to “pass under the rod.”
Yes, He is the True Shepherd of our souls (Matthew 8:11-12: Mark 14:27; I Peter 2:25; Hebrews 12:20-21). It is by His voice that we are directed, fed, corrected, assured.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters...”
