THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP
“YHWH is my shepherd, I shall not want”…thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me”. Psalms 32:1,4 In order to understand the relationship between the sheep and shepherd, we must understand the nature of sheep and their biblical relationship to the Shepherd. The general relationship is this: In the Old Testament (Covenant), the sheep gave his life for the shepherd (Deut 18:3). In the New Testament (Covenant), the Shepherd gives his life for the sheep (John 10:14-15). The shepherd never gives birth to the sheep; they are born of YHWH and begotten of Elohim (John 1:13, John 5:8) who has entrusted them into the care of his Son (beneficiary).
ATTRIBUTES OF THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP Sheep are the only domestic animals that are totally dependant upon man and are the most human-like in character. If left alone, sheep will not become wild, BUT without the shepherd they will either be stolen by thieves (John 10:1), killed by beasts (1 Samuel 17:34 - wolves in sheep’s clothing/the hireling) or if unprotected, killed by the harsh weather (situations and circumstances around them - John 10:7-8, 10, 12). They are the property of the Father, YHWH Elohim, purchased with a great price, (the blood of his first born son, Yahshua - Zech 11:12-13, Matt 27:6) and thereby the sheep are “firstlings” who are holy unto YHWH (Num 18:17) to be redeemed (Exodus 13:13) and protected as ‘cherished of the Father’. Sheep are dumb and cannot be trained to do anything and thus, gifts given to the sheep by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) must be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). This is of The United Congregation of Israel
vital importance because their minds are blind (2 Cor 3:14) and they cannot hear well or see very well, beyond 14 feet (Matt 13:15, Isa 42:7). They are not swift in flight (Isa 53:7) and are defenseless (Gen 30:38-40, Lev 27:32) since their only weapon of defense is the Rod of the Shepherd (The WORD). They have no sense of direction and are prone to stray (Eze 34:6). If ever lost, they cannot find their way back and must be retrieved by the shepherd (Luke 15:4). They are easily frightened (Isa 10:24, John 10:5) and have very little strength, but are willing to die, stand dumb, before the shearers (Isaiah 53:7). They follow the shepherd for his protection (1 Chron 21:17) and food, and in turn with bonding, give up their gifts to the shepherd. Sheep flock together and do better in flocks as opposed to separately (Gen 29:8). Unlike goats who will eat anything, sheep are clean natured, affectionate animals with loving eyes that will lick the hand of the shepherd. One sheep will follow another one, and thereby they can lead each other astray. Thus, righteous shepherds have often been raised from the midst of the flock as with Yahshua who gave the keys of the Kingdom unto one of his sheep, Peter (Gen 45:7-8; Isa 13:14; Acts 13:22, Jere 3:14-15).
”And I will give you pastors (shepherds) according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north (America) to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers”. Jeremiah 3:15, 18
The sheep favor the shepherd and follow him (John 10:4). Only a sick sheep will follow a stranger/hireling. Sheep furnish the shepherd with its flesh for food, its fat for salve and ointments, its fluids for milk and cheese (2 Sam 17:29) and its fleece brings the shepherd profits (1 Sam 25:2). The sheep respond to a caressing touch and fellowship (if you talk in its ear, sheep will rub against the shepherd’s leg). The only restless sheep is one who is not being fed or given personal care via the WORD (Jer 23:-12). Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and 12 Tribes of Israel, Moses, and David all were shepherds: • Abraham had to trust in YHWH before he could become the father of many sheepfolds. • Isaac had to follow his fathers instructions to find the perfect bride before he could carry on the sheepfold lineage and the covenant . • Jacob had to leave Israel (the land) and wrestle with an angel (in the wilderness) The United Congregation of Israel
before he was surnamed Israel and was able to return home to continue in the covenant. • The 12 Tribes had to learn what it means to be family before they could lead their tribes of the sheepfold and continue the covenant. • Moses had to learn to lead the sheep before he could lead a nation of people and give them the covenant. • David had to win the hearts of the people under great persecution and duress before he could become shepherd of the people and bring forth the Good Shepherd. • Christ, the Good Shepherd had to redeem the sheep with his own life and blood, before he could reign over them to become the Great Shepherd. Through this impressive Hebrew lineage of shepherds, Elohim opened the: 1. Virgin womb that gave us the Good Shepherd. (John 10:11). 2. Tomb that gave us the Great Shepherd. (Hebrews 13:20). 3. Sky that gave us the Chief Shepherd (I Peter 5:4) He died to redeem the sheep (Salvation – Isa 62:12, Heb 11:6), he lives to keep the sheep (Security – Eze 34:12) and is coming soon to reward the sheep (Service – Psa 19:10-12, Isa 40:10, Isa 62:11). Yahshua became a Shepherd because, all of us, like sheep, had gone astray (Isa 53:5-6), so we needed a shepherd to lead us (1 Pet 2:25). Thus, Yahshua became the “Door of the Sheepfold” (John 10:1, 9) and Elohim will not trust the care of the sheep to a hireling because they don’t care for (love) the sheep (John 10:12-13, 26). Shepherd's Relationship The Shepherd finds his sheep (other sheep have I that are not of this sheepfold…I must bring – John 10:16). He foregoes his sheep (he has foreknown them since before the womb (Isa 44:1-3) and even though they are hard of hearing, they know/hear his voice (John 10:4, 16, 27). The Shepherd foals his sheep or gives life to them (Matt 20:28, i.e., “be born again”). He feeds them with his rod (the WORD of truth – Mic 7:14) and leads them to green pastures (so their cup runneth over – Psa 23:2, 5). The Shepherd comforts and protects them with his staff (The Spirit – Psa 23:4) and no man is able to pluck them from The Father’s hand (John 10:29). As a result, only one kind of sheep gets restless; a hungry one who is not being fed with the ROD and comforted/protected with the Staff of the shepherd (Eze 34:2-4). Shepherd's Resources The United Congregation of Israel
The shepherd’s resources are those of: 1) a lowly life (Zech 9:9), and: 2) not well esteemed (the youngest son was the shepherd, not the elder (1 Sam 16:11); and if a man had only one son, then the daughter would become the shepherd. If a man had only daughters, then the youngest daughter would become the shepherd (Gen 29:9). The shepherd’s life is: 3) a lonely life (Rom 11:3 - men forsook him, friends forsook him for a time – Matt 26:55-56) and even YHWH had to forsake him (in order to sacrifice his life for the sheep – Matt 27:46). A shepherd’s life is: 4) a laborious life: • One of peril; robbers, wild beasts and weather (2 Cor 11:26-28). • One of pilgrimage: the peaks and valleys; rocks and plains, with meager but ample supplies (Psa 119:54). • One of an overcomer (with consistent and constant care for the sheep (Rev 2:7, 17, 26, Rev 3:5, 12, 21) • One where he loves life so he gave his life to give life to the sheep (redemption for the fall of the 1st Adam/the old man; and I am my brother’s keeper – Isa 41:6). • One of restoration, lifting his sheep to higher plateaus (Psalms 40:2) and green pastures (Psa 23:2): a. from the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23); b. from the power of sin (Mark 2:10); and finally: c. from the presence of sin (Psa 5:4, Jer 50:20).
“Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of YHWH; Thus saith YHWH Elohim; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them…For thus saith YHWH Elohim; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment…And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I YHWH will be their Elohim, and my servant David a prince among them; I YHWH have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods”. Ezekiel 34:9-25
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