Wednesday Bible Blurb “A Shepherd Loves his Sheep” 4 16 2025
I have three pet sheep named Manna, Olive and Deena. Most folks have a dog or a cat, but I have sheep. Yes, big, fluffy puppylike sheep who run up to me in the yard and follow me around just like a puppy would. They don’t play fetch or protect me from intruders, but they do brighten our day and even greet the neighbors should they come to visit. Imagine, three big sheep covered in their winter wool running to say hello to you. Recently Manna has started to limp and not be able to graze with her friends.
Jesus talks about leaving the 99 and going after the one to help them and bring them back to the fold. I needed to catch Manna, so I recruited one of my grandsons (Sub-shepherd) to help me catch and doctor Manna. Poor Manna is in pain and sometimes the medicines we must administer are uncomfortable and, in this case, we had to catch her, pick her up and lay her upside down so we could work on her hoof. She is not happy when it comes to this process. She struggles and kicks and simply does not want to take her medicine. I can’t say as I blame her as who wants to be held down when you don’t feel well? We trimmed her hoof and applied a little olive oil to try to soften it up and then we let her go. For a day she seemed better, but now she will no longer put any weight on her front leg. It is discouraging to this shepherd and to my little sub-shepherd.
Sometimes the shepherd must do what the Shepherd must do. Over the years of shepherding, I have taken care of many sick and ailing sheep. Many lessons have been learned and are continually being learned by this old shepherd. One of the biggest is I cannot always take care of my flock. Bad things happen to good sheep and sometimes as the shepherd I must let things play out to their conclusion. It hurts to watch as my sheep suffer. I (we) can all take solace in God’s Word and the beautiful messages He sends us concerning our lives as He compares us to sheep.
Isaiah 40:10-11 “Behold, the LORD God shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom and gently lead those who are with young.” As a shepherd I must lead my flock with love and kindness, holding them close and caring for them when they are in need. There have been times when I have held the baby lambs on my lap while they curled up and slept. What a peaceful time it is when the sheep are content.
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” There have been times when my sheep wander away from me and the other sheep. They are out looking for something better and have at times ended up dead for their efforts. One sheep thought the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. The neighbors Rottweiler thought it would be fun to tear the head of the sheep off as the sheep became entangled in the wire fence. Let us never walk astray of God as the consequences can be final.
Isaiah 11:6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.” This is one of the most beautiful and poignant verses about the coming Kingdom of God in the entire Bible. No more will sheep stray or be killed by wild beasts. Love, kindness and God’s way of life will abound, and peace will be at hand.
Poor Manna sheep, I think her hoof is split which is causing her to limp and not put any weight on her leg. Three of my sub-shepherds have come to visit (Three grandsons) this morning, so we will go out, catch her and doctor her up. When I get up every morning I walk outside and talk to my sheep. They know my voice and will come to me (John 10:27). It is a wonderful thing to see them respond and as I softly call out each of their names, they will each baah a response and then continue grazing. Giving medicine to the sheep can be a difficult time since they don’t want to change their behavior. Sometimes they get curious and hurt themselves on a fence. Teaching them to change their ways and to leave the fence alone is not easy. When ill I will anoint them with olive oil by rubbing it onto their wound. David did this with his sheep too (Psalms 23:5). It seems a shepherd’s work is never done. But there is good news!
We are His sheep. We are the children of God and He knows our voice and we know His voice. He anoints us with oil and gives us opportunity to change to His ways. He calls us and watches over us in all our struggles and trials. “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalms 100:3).
Each day I go outside and take care of my little flock of sheep. Manna, Olive and Deena are well taken care of. Sometimes I hurt because I must watch them heal and it often takes more time than I want it to. It is difficult to watch them suffer. In the end, the sheep know I am there watching over them. As the children of God we know, “For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” (Psalms 95:7). God is watching us, take care, be faithful, know He truly cares for His sheep.
