A slice of bread--and hope for tomorrow.
Charles Allen, a great Methodist preacher, tells this story about World War II:
Immediately after the war the Allied armies gathered up many hungry, homeless children in Europe and placed them in large camps. There the children were abundantly fed and cared for. However, at night they did not sleep well. They seemed restless and afraid.
Finally, a psychologist hit on a solution. After the children were put to bed, they each received a slice of bread to hold. If they wanted more to eat, more was provided, but this particular slice was not to be eaten, it was just to hold.
The slice of bread produced marvelous results. The children would go to sleep, subconsciously feeling they would have something to eat tomorrow. That assurance gave the child a calm and peaceful rest.
I think Jesus recognized this need for comfort and hope in all humanity, not just children, when He so often used the pastoral imagery of sheep and their shepherd in referring to His relationship with us, especially in times of stress. For there is in that metaphor, "The Lord is my shepherd," a blessed assurance that surpasses all other images of well-being and of hope.
So today--called "Shepherd Sunday" in the church calendar--some thoughts about sheep and shepherding to help us get a better hold on this important Biblical image of assurance which occurs more than five hundred times in our Bible.
Sheep and shepherds are a primary Biblical image because sheep represented the total livelihood and the chief wealth of the nomadic pastoral peoples of the Bible. Sheep provided them with food to eat, milk to drink, wool for clothing, hides for tents and skin for writing upon. Sheep were (and continue to be) used as a primary medium of exchange and, as lambs, figure centrally in the religious sacrificial system of Israel. Indeed, the image of Jesus in Revelations is as a sacrificial lamb.
The nature of sheep is that they are affectionate, unaggressive, relatively defenseless and in constant need of care and supervision. Because of this, their primary needs and support come from the shepherd; and, since the flock represented total livelihood of the family, the care of the flock was committed to a son, a daughter or, if needed, a most trusted servant.
One of the characteristics of sheep is that they are joined with others as a flock and the whole is tended by a shepherd. (It's interesting that in our English language there is no singular tense for sheep--only plural. Sheep are sheep whether one or one hundred.)
In the early morning hours the shepherd goes to the fold where several flock of sheep lie together and he calls his sheep. His own sheep recognize his voice and they come out and follow him. Sheep that belong to other shepherds pay no attention to a strange voice.
The shepherd then leads his flock into the pastures and there spends the day with them (sometimes the night as well). They are never left alone.
The sheep is a very timid creature and is especially afraid of swift-moving water. In fact, they will not drink from moving water, so the shepherd must lead them to still waters or dam up a small stream to form a quiet pool from which sheep will drink.
The shepherd develops an incredibly close and intimate relationship with his flock, not unlike the relationship we develop with our favorite pet at home. Sometime during each day each sheep leaves its place in the feeding line and goes over to the shepherd, whereupon the shepherd stretches out his hand and rubs the animal's nose and ears, scratches its chin and talks affectionately to it. The sheep rubs against the shepherd's leg or nibbles at his earlobes. Then, after a few moments of communion, the sheep, reassured, trots off to its place in the feeding line.
Sheep have no sense of direction and cannot find their way to green pastures or even home, like a dog or horse. Sheep have very poor eyesight and the Palestinian fields are quite hilly and often treacherous with steep inclines and deep valley gorges. So shepherds must lead their flock through these dangers and guard against predators who wait to snatch away a young lamb. Yet sheep do not fear being lost or attacked by predators.
In the evening when the sheep are led home to the fold (corral) at night, the shepherd sets a bowl of olive oil and a jar of cool water by the gate. The shepherd then examines each sheep individually as they enter the sheep gate and rubs oil into the scratches and wounds made by rough rocks or briars during the day--anointing them with oil, the Mideastern way of healing wounds. Then each sheep sinks his nose into the full jar and drinks deeply from the cool refreshing water. When all the sheep are counted and at rest and protected by the fold, the shepherd drapes his staff across the gate and sleeps close by, always facing the sheep.
Given all this, it is not surprising that throughout the Old and New Testament figurative language of sheep and shepherds is so movingly used. Indeed, the 23rd Psalm begins to make a lot of sense:
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.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
From the many other Biblical references, these samples:
I will gather the remnant of my flock and I will bring them back to their fold. (Jeremiah)
I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, neither shall any be missing. (Jeremiah)
Jesus saw the great throng and had compassion because they were like sheep without a shepherd. (Mark)
I will seek the lost and I will bring back the strayed, I will strengthen the weak and watch over them. (Ezekial)
I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John)
This morning we bring new sheep into our fold--for Baptism is in a very real sense a sheep gate on the entry into the flock of Christianity. They will take their place with us, becoming members of this flock who acknowledge and follow the Lord Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd. And like the children who clutch a piece of bread in their hands each night, they will have, as we have, that wonderful knowledge that the Good Shepherd will protect and shelter them with his presence and they shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd and He will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Amen.
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