sheep − 18 February, 2007
Psalm 23 "The LORD is my shepherd...", and Matthew 18:12 "If one of you has ninety-nine sheep..."
A radio program provided this description of the day-to-day life of an old time shepherd --
The shepherd knows his sheep. He gives them personal names, they are more like pets than livestock to be sold for money. The shepherd's rod is taller than the shepherd, and has a curve that fits around the body of the sheep. The rod is made of very hard wood, so that a wandering sheep may be directed back to the flock. When there is danger from lions or bears, in the hands of a capable shepherd, the rod is used as an effective weapon.
When a sheep goes missing, the shepherd notices this within minutes at best, hours at least. Then he goes to look for it, because he has a personal bond with it. He knows that sheep are by nature very afraid. If it gets stuck in a bush, it might starve to death. If it gets chased by mountain lions, it's dinner.
Each morning and every night, the shepherd sits in front of each sheep, looks at it from nose level, and checks to see that everything is okay. If the sheep is injured, or has ticks, or illness, the shepherd takes care to resolve the matter at once. The sheep sleep well because they know that the shepherd is there. The shepherd is the first thing they see in the morning, and the last person they see as they go to sleep.
A radio program provided this description of the day-to-day life of an old time shepherd --
The shepherd knows his sheep. He gives them personal names, they are more like pets than livestock to be sold for money. The shepherd's rod is taller than the shepherd, and has a curve that fits around the body of the sheep. The rod is made of very hard wood, so that a wandering sheep may be directed back to the flock. When there is danger from lions or bears, in the hands of a capable shepherd, the rod is used as an effective weapon.
When a sheep goes missing, the shepherd notices this within minutes at best, hours at least. Then he goes to look for it, because he has a personal bond with it. He knows that sheep are by nature very afraid. If it gets stuck in a bush, it might starve to death. If it gets chased by mountain lions, it's dinner.
Each morning and every night, the shepherd sits in front of each sheep, looks at it from nose level, and checks to see that everything is okay. If the sheep is injured, or has ticks, or illness, the shepherd takes care to resolve the matter at once. The sheep sleep well because they know that the shepherd is there. The shepherd is the first thing they see in the morning, and the last person they see as they go to sleep.
