6.
Shepherd
In the
mysterious way of God, who is not bound by our structures of thought,
Jesus is called not only the Lamb of God, but also our Shepherd. He
is not only the sacrifice for sin, but also the high priest who
offers the sacrifice, the one who guides the sheep of His own flock,
and the owner of the flock. This is important to note. God had
stipulated very clearly and strongly that only those He specified
were authorized to offer sacrifices or carry the Ark of the Covenant
or do the tasks appointed exclusively to priests. Numbers 18: 7.
Anyone who disregarded that forfeited his own life. Numbers 16. In
the Bible God gives pictures of shepherds who become the leaders of
His people. Learning to care for animal sheep prepared them for the
difficult job of leading human “sheep.” It was always an arduous
task. Moses got forty years' training. David probably had about
twenty. A shepherd was sometimes hired for the job of guiding sheep
and sometimes led his own flock, and Jesus gave a notable distinction
about which was more devoted to the flock's welfare. John 10. A
shepherd's work involved leading the flock to pastures and water,
protecting them from praying beasts, giving them refuge for rest,
seeking out strays, buying new sheep, ransoming the stolen, assisting
the birthing process, healing the injured, and sometimes sending his
dogs after rebellious wanderers. Because sheep are rather stupid and
quite fragile, the shepherd needs to be gentle and patient,
forbearing, and long-visioned. In all of this picture we see our
Savior with us. It is not conducive to pride in ourselves to be called sheep, but it
cannot but bring honor and glory to our Good Shepherd.
Exodus
3: 1
I
Samuel 17: 34 ff
Psalm
23
Psalm
80: 1
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