SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE
BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL
SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE
BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL
INTRODUCTION
““Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture,” Psalms 100: 3.
Every Sabbath we open our worship with the 96th, 95th and 100th Psalms. Recently, one phrase stuck out to me, “the sheep of his pasture.” Why does the Lord so often refer to his saints as sheep and what does a pasture point to spiritually? To answer these two questions let’s
first define these terms and explore the characteristics of sheep. A pasture is a land covered with grass and other low plants that are suitable for grazing animals. Sheep, as we well know, are domesticated mammals that were created on the sixth day. This animal serves as an
important staple in human civilization, being raised for its meat, milk and wool. The Lord deemed them to be clean animals that have cloven hoofs and chew their cud, which is semi digested food that the sheep regurgitate from their stomachs back into theirs mouths to chew again. Sheep are herbivores, meaning their diet consists of seeds, grass and plants. They are grazers that will feed upon a pasture for 6 to 12 hours in a day.
Opposite of popular belief, sheep are quite clever animals with excellent memory and learning ability. For
example, they can memorize up to 50 faces of other sheep for up to 2 years and recognize human faces like their caregivers. They also remember grazing sites using landmarks to orient themselves to their environment. Sheep are very social creatures that are capable of forming close knit bonds with other sheep, especially those they are related to. Plus they are known to follow one another from birth. Finally, sheep generally have a
docile and good natured temperament. They can be easily trained to follow commands, leaning to recognize and trust the voice of only their shepherd.
Just as these animals are deemed clean in the eyes of the Lord, we too must be clean. To be clean is to be without sin, which is made evident through our obedience unto the Lord. Psalms 24: 3-4, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Obedience also means that your eyes are fully open and you can see the truth clearly. Like a sheep, you have excellent eyesight. Not only that, you are fully aware of the dangers in this world and the snares and traps the devil will throw your way, thus enabling you to steer clear of him. But like a predator the devil won’t leave us alone so what must we do? We must continue to seek out the Lord via study of the scriptures.
2 Timothy 2: 15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The law makes us wise in both our common and spiritual lives, like clever sheep. Psalms 19: 7, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” And through earnest study, we are able to learn more about God and further recognize the difference between right and
wrong. We will remember God’s word, keeping it at the forefront of our minds. Like sheep, God made human beings to be social creatures as well. From the beginning, the Lord said, “it is not good that the man should be alone,” (Genesis 2; 18). When you are like minded with others in the truth, these individuals are your brothers and sisters in Christ. In Matthew 12: 48-50, “But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Ephesians 2: 19, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”
It is important for you to speak often with your family in Christ, always showing love and support to one another. It is also important to assemble and worship together because there is strength in numbers. Hebrews 10: 24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Recall that sheep follow commands and recognize the voice of their shepherd. Who is our Shepherd? It is Christ. John 10: 14, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” And it is the Lord that said in John 10: 27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” We must recognize Christ’s authority over us. He is the one that we must follow and obey because he is the way, the truth and life. John 14: 6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Christ is our protector and provider of all our needs. He loves and tends to his flock and even gave his life for us. John 10: 15, “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Let us now consider the pasture and what it symbolizes. Keep in mind the pasture is a grazing site for the sheep
where they are able to be nourished, feel safe and remain close with other sheep as well as their shepherd. If we think of the pasture as a whole this is God’s house, his church. God’s house is a place of safety and refuge where the saints of God can commune with other saints (sheep) and feel closer to Christ, the shepherd. The individual grass and plants that the sheep graze upon represent the word of God. We of course, can find the word of God in his church. Another scripture I would like to highlight is in Psalms 23: 1-2, “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.” Note that he stated “he maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” To lie down is to rest. Spiritually we rest from the cares of this world when we come to the house of the Lord. We find peace and comfort in the church.
The pastures are green because this is indicative of life, specifically eternal life. When we consume the word of God it becomes a part of us and we are nourished back to life, drawing us that much closer to salvation.
Even if you are not affiliated with a church organization, you are a still a part of God’s flock if you obey the laws of God. For there are saints in this world that have no choice but to worship in small groups or even on their own. But the word teaches us that we worship in spirit and truth and that the church begins first in the
individual. I Corinthians 3: 16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Remember the Lord also said in Matthew 18: 20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The church then spreads from the individual to a body of collective saints of which Christ is the head. I Corinthians 12: 12-13,
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” So you can see all those who obey are a part of God’s holy flock and what we have in common is our love for our shepherd and the pasture that he has provided us. In this context, the pasture represents the word of God that we cherish and feed on daily.
So let us give thanks that we belong to the Shepherd, our Lord and Savior. We are forever the sheep of his pasture and will stay under the shadow of his protection and guidance, so long has we follow his every command. May God be with you all. Amen.
SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE
BY: ELISABETH C. TUNSTALL