What do you trust to keep you safe?
People turn to any number of things for a sense of security. This can be outward, relying on things like government, law enforcement, and other institutions for protection and sustenance; others turn inward, training their bodies in a myriad of self-defense measures so they are always ready to protect themselves. Realistically, though, our weakest flank is often the one we pay least attention to—the spiritual side of things.
It’s no coincidence God refers to His people often as sheep. Animal husbandry was a HUGE part of life in the ancient near east cultures, and flocks of sheep were a mark of great prosperity. But the larger the flock, the more the temptation for predators to attack. This is no different in the spiritual realm, where the Body of Christ is under constant assault from predatory spiritual forces; and much like sheep, we are often ignorant of what’s stalking us until it pounces. Like sheep in a pasture, we need a shepherd!
Shepherds sometimes get a rap of being rather passive guys who sit around, zoning out while watching sheep graze under the beating sun. But historically speaking, shepherds were watchmen, ever-vigilant; they carried a staff to direct the flocks who were often pretty lost without their guidance. They traversed treacherous terrain and put themselves in the path of hungry carnivores to protect those in their charge. I don’t know about you, but I don’t see a lot of passivity in that!
One of the most famous shepherds in Scripture was David. From boyhood, he wrestled lions and bears, delivering sheep from their jaws, protecting the flock. This made him a trained protector and warrior with a streak of boldness God molded perfectly to help deliver Israel and to rule over it well. You might say David traded one flock for another—from shepherding his father’s pastures to shepherding Israel. And you might also see in this a foreshadowing of another shepherd, the Good Shepherd: Jesus Christ, who shepherds the Body of Christ, his Father’s flock!
We have such a powerful shepherd watching over us; we are guided and directed by a firm but gentle hand. Our Jesus, just like his Father with the people of Israel, stands in defense of us before the predators of the spiritual and physical realms. He is steady and reliable; he guides us and comes after us when we stray.
Thank God for our wonderful shepherd—and for the unequivocated security that comes from being God’s people, the sheep of His pasture!
