Sheep Talking

(Excerpt from Adventure in Biblical Thinking Study Series, Volume 2, 2021)

Did you know that sheep talk? My wife and I have had some sheep for over twenty years. Sheep make sounds that communicate. There are unique sounds between a mother and her baby. My wife calls it mama talk. There are sounds that are made when the sheep want to be fed or released from the corral to go out to pasture. Then there are distress sounds that come when a sheep is separated from the flock or that occurs when lambs are weaned.

However, that is not the kind of sheep talk we are going to explore. The very familiar twenty-third Psalm is a sheep talking. Did you ever think about that? What I am going to do is go bit by bit through the Psalm and first identify what the sheep is saying and secondly, explore what the sheep knows or has experienced that is the thinking behind what the sheep says.

When we talk what we say comes from our knowledge and experience. Have you ever heard someone talking and your thought is they don’t know what they are talking about? It is annoying and the person sounds phony. That will not be the case here because David having been a shepherd knows about shepherds and sheep. Let’s get started.

Knowledge that has value is based on truth. Truth has authority. Have you ever heard someone say when expounding some knowledge that they have it on good authority? The authority I will be using is the authority of the Word of truth, the Scriptures.

The sheep says: “The LORD is my shepherd”

The sheep know: The sheep knows that this is his shepherd and that the shepherd belongs to the sheep. The key word is “my”. My speaks of ownership. My stuff is mine. It belongs to me. It is my property, my possession. The sheep also knows that he is owned by the shepherd. Ownership and belonging are very important.

My wife and I own sheep. Here is the way it works. Each spring and summer I go regularly to the local livestock auction and I purchase light lambs. Light lambs are smaller lambs that need to grow before they are large enough to go to market as fat lambs to be processed and end up in the meat counter at the grocery store. Our plan is to feed them in our pasture and feed them additional hay and for them to grow to market weight and be ready to sell.

I purchase the sheep and we now own them and they belong to us. They are our property and possession. I have a document that I receive at the auction when I pay for the sheep that is a bill of sale. The person who brought the sheep to the auction to sell them no longer owns them. They are no longer the seller’s property. Later, we will take the sheep to the auction and sell them. Then we will no longer own them and they are no longer our property. They are no longer in our possession. The sheep will no longer belong to us because the person who buys them will now own them and the sheep belong to them and are their property and in their possession.

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins (Ephesian 1:7 NLT).

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light (I Peter 2:9 NLT).

The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him (Ephesians 1:14 NLT).

The Lord as my shepherd belongs to me. Possessions have value. Let’s look at the value found in having the Lord as my shepherd. What do we know about this shepherd?

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

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine (John 10:14).

What is the Good Shephard like? The sheep know they are owned by the Shepherd because the Shepherd said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine (John 10:14). Jesus goes on to say: “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” (John 10: 2-4).

The Good Shephard is committed to His sheep, so committed to the sheep that He will die for them. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The Good Shephard knows the sheep that are His and those sheep know Him. A sacrificially committed Shephard who knows the sheep is very valuable.

The sheep say: “I shall not want.”

The sheep knows: The Shephard will provide everything that the sheep needs. The sheep needs food, water, shelter and protection.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out (John 10:1-3).

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep (John 10:7).

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture (John 10:9).

The sheep know that they are going to be fed and watered. They are safely protected in the shelter of the Shepherd’s fold and that the Shephard is the door. Since He is the door no thief or robber can come and take the sheep.

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (I Peter 1:5).

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled (John 17:12).

The sheep say: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

The sheep knows: That green pastures are really good food. The green pasture is so luxurious that the sheep eats his fill and then lies down in the pasture. Sheep lying down in the pasture are full. The shepherd will address thirst needs by leading the sheep to water. The sheep knows these physical needs are met by the Shepherd. The sheep knows that shepherd leads and all the sheep has to do to received great care is to follow.

This is what Jesus said: “…the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4).

The sheep say: “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

The sheep knows: The Shepherd will meet emotional and spiritual needs and provide leadership in righteous paths. The sheep knows that the Shepherd’s motivation is for His name’s sake. Since the sheep belong to the shepherd, the Shepherd’s reputation is linked to His sheep. The sheep know that they are receiving super care.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11).

The sheep say: “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.”

The sheep knows: He is safe! The sheep understands that the Shepherd is always there to protect and comfort no matter how scary the situation may be. This includes life threatening situations. The sheep also knows that the Shepherd is armed with a rod and staff to provide that protection. Jesus said: “…I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). We also read, “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

The sheep say: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

The sheep knows: That provisions have been planned and prepared even in times and places of danger. The anointing of oil speaks to the thought that the sheep is special. The Shepherd caries oil to apply to wounds or abrasions that could cause discomfort and stress. As the sheep sits at the prepared table, he or she has an abundance of all that is needed in the picture of a cup so full it is running over.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

…for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things (Matthew 6:32).

The sheep say: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

The sheep knows: That following the Shepherd means that his whole life is going to be good and he will receive mercy. For our analogy the sheep knows he will safely be in the Shepherd fold which is the Lord’s house.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2).

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).

I am sure you noticed that we have been looking at what the sheep say about the Shepherd in Psalms 23 and what the Shepherd is saying about the sheep in John 10. I am also sure you noticed that what the sheep say and the what the Shepherd says are in agreement. This makes me very happy to meditate on what the sheep says and the Shepherd confirms. I am very glad to be a sheep and that the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is my shepherd and that I belong to Him.

The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalms 23

{A Psalm of David.} 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 for ever.

Jesus the Good Shepherd

John 10:1-18

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

More adventures in Biblical thinking about sheep talking.

These exercises can be used for reflection on the content of this adventure in Biblical thinking or they could be used as discussion starters for a small group Bible study.

1. Think about ownership. Think about the things you own. How important are your possessions to you? List a few of your most valued possessions.
2. Think about people as possessions. We don’t think about people as being part of our property that would be something like slavery. However, I say, “my wife”, “my children”, “my friends”. Can you hear relationship claimed as a possession in these statements? Now, can you name some people that fit in this model for you? Can you name some people who would consider you as a relationship possession. Is God included?
3. Think about provisions. List some daily provisions that you receive and rely upon. Can you identify the Lord’s role in these provisions? Can you name an incident when you were keenly aware that it was a special provision from the Lord?
4. Think about protection. The concept of guardian angel is rather common in our culture but can you think of ways that you are protected? Can you see the Lord’s hand in this? Reflect on this verse: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (I Peter 5:7).
5. Think about following. We follow directions. We follow instructions. Sometimes we follow people. Example: tour guide. Think of line of preschoolers holding a rope following their teacher. Now, think about following Jesus. I visualize looking at His back. My wife visualizes looking at His heels. How do you visualize following the Good Shepherd?
6. Think about hearing the Good Shepherd. Are you listening? To hear you have to listen. Can you recall a parent saying to you, “You are not listening!”? If you are a parent, have you ever said to one of your children, “You are not listening!”? How do you go about listening to the Good Shepherd?
7. Think about being called by name. When our name is called, we respond because the calling of our name is specific personal recognition. We are identified by our name. Our name is on our birth certificate. We introduce ourselves with: “My name is—“. When we reflect on ownership and relationship, each “my” had a name. My wife has a name. My children have names. My friends have names. List some of your “my’s” by name. Then mediate on the fact the Good Shepherd knows your name. Don’t forget the Good Shepherd has a name. The Good Shepherd’s name is the Lord Jesus Christ.