The Shepherd's Care

"He came to make sure we have no fear of any kind for any reason whatsoever. It is an irresponsible shepherd that frightens the sheep."

• A pastor is to wash feet, not force feed nor trip up.
• Correction is done through the Spirit while in the Spirit and with compassion.
• People should never feel they have to jump through hoops to please the pastor.

THERE IS A GIRL on Instagram who has a herd of baby doll sheep, a small variety, that she keeps in a field. She puts flowers in the wool around their heads and celebrates their birthdays. She spends time with them, hugging them and loving on them. No better picture of a shepherd has been painted. In contrast, I’ve never seen her make them perform for their housing. They don’t have to sing and dance to spend time in the pasture. Nor is this image anywhere in the stories in the Word of God. I am not a pastor, but she inspires me toward a certain imitation. Because Jesus came to shepherd the sheep. He came to keep them from stumbling into danger, to guide them toward green pastures where there is an abundance of life. He came to save us from the lion and the bear. Just like His great-great-something grandfather, David did. He came to make sure we have no fear of any kind for any reason whatsoever. It is an irresponsible shepherd that frightens the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

There has been a further misunderstanding about shepherding sheep. In the parable Jesus told where the shepherd goes after the lost sheep and so leaves behind the ninety-nine (Luke 15:4). He doesn’t leave them in perilous danger, at the will of the wolf. Nor does he leave them behind with no intention to return. A shepherd of that kind would be out of a job. Instead, he puts himself into danger to save the one that is lost, knowing the ninety-nine are where they should be. He does not take the one lost sheep, when he finds it, and create a new herd. He does not sell the other sheep and choose to guide only the one. He may tend the one, while it is weak until it is strong again and can return to the herd, but the shepherd’s job is to unite the sheep, make sure they are healthy and properly fed, and keep them from danger.

A young man who lives in Scotland shows how his dogs herd sheep, in videos on YouTube. The dogs are extremely well trained and obedient. The sheep move entirely at their whim, but it is the shepherd’s voice that tells the dogs what to do. They hear him and obey whatever he says. They move the sheep between pastures, even over great distances. They round up any that go astray. They do not eat the sheep, terrorize the sheep, or cull one from the others. That shepherd uses his dogs to keep the sheep in the best place for them. He understands the need of sheep. Sheep need to know their every day is secure. They need to feel at home in the pasture. They are an unproductive herd when constantly threatened by danger, especially if the shepherd wants them to create more sheep.

A sacrificial lamb had to be unblemished. There was no exception to this. And a lamb was only unblemished because it was protected and cared for, because its parents were kept safe and were well-fed. The condition of the herd reflected on the shepherd’s care. Given a healthy herd, could he keep them that way? Given an unhealthy herd, could he improve them? Jacob was told he could keep certain colored sheep for himself from his father-in-law’s herd, and because God was with him, he saw to the increase of the sheep, knowing what was needed to reap the most benefit. God blessed him and grew his flock. It was not to his benefit to abuse them or neglect them. We don’t think this way regarding pastors, but what is spoken to the sheep should bring the hope of the gospel. It should bring wisdom and cause growth. It should increase their security and joyfulness. They should run to their shepherd, with flowers in their wool, knowing he will wash their feet if it’s required. Blessed for his goodness to them, and he should find joy in his service to them. Both joined in one to the beauty of the King.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Image by Hanna Groß from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com