We have little or no experience to truly understand the agrarian metaphors that abound in the Bible. Our lives are disconnected from the land, from nature, from the natural rhythm of the seasons. The gospel reading for today speaks about sheep and details some sheep behavior. Most of us don’t know much about sheep, other than the lovely pastoral pictures we see of sheep grazing in a field, or perhaps the religious pictures of Jesus with a lamb in his arms. Our bishops carry shepherd’s crooks – of course not the kind that are useful like this one. Metaphors and symbols of sheep and lambs and shepherds abound in Christianity and in the Bible. Psalm 23 that we said earlier is the most well-known psalm in the Bible. Why? What is it about sheep? Sheep can exist on poor pasture, and eat what larger animals will not. Sheep were probably a common site in the dry scrubby hills. But the image you have in your mind of a peaceful flock grazing on green pastures is far from reality.
But what do you really know about sheep? I have listened to many sermons on this Sunday and many of them are about sheep. But I am a shepherd. A part-time shepherd, but a shepherd. I know about sheep, and I would like to set the record straight on a few things.
Sheep are dumb. They die from panic and run into fenceposts and break their necks. Stray dogs or coyotes don’t have to touch them to kill them. If the herd panics, they run in any direction, even over a cliff. Rams will breed until they are exhausted and die – really. Sheep will find any way to get through a fence and get something they think is better on the other side. They have special dietary needs, and can die if they aren’t taken care of properly. Sheep have been bred for thousands of years for their meat, milk and wool. Not for brains or self-preservation. When the gospel reading speaks about being called through a gate, I cringe. Sheep will maim themselves trying to go through a small opening for something they want. Lambs get trampled that way. Sides get ripped up on wood, and legs get broken. This is true even of a small flock.
Sheep are directionless. Even if there is a lead ewe or bellweather, they may wander away from the flock and then not find their way back. Even older ewes do this, and lambs are the most vulnerable. One of the most startling parables for me is that of the lost sheep from the gospel of Luke. No earthly shepherd would leave the flock and search for the lost one. Although Jesus was speaking to tax collectors and Pharisees, they would still be startled at this story. Losses are a part of nature. It makes no human sense to leave those that can be kept safe to search for another that may be already gone.
Sheep are defenseless. As I said, natural selection doesn’t play a part in domesticated species, so any inclination to protect themselves or their young is largely lost. Sheep will challenge dogs that they feel can’t enforce the rules – but this is sheer stupidity. Dogs have the teeth to back up their orders, yet sheep (remember I said stupid) do so occasionally to see if the dog is paying attention.
Sheep do come when called – especially for dinner. In Biblical times several flocks would be put up in a corral for the night and called to separate them in the morning. My sheep know my voice, or actually my van as I drive through the field. They walk alongside the van up to the barn and wait sort of patiently as I prepare a meal for them. I use a dog to keep order and make sure that they don’t hurt themselves as they walk through the gate to get their meal.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Why? The rod is more of a club with spikes in it to protect against wolves. It has evolved into the scepter of kings. The staff is the crook, which is used to move and catch sheep and direct them where they need to go. Sometimes you have to get physical with sheep to get them where they need to be, and the crook comes in handy.
Many countries have legends about kings whose early careers were as shepherds. The youngest son was generally sent out to tend the flocks, as he was too young to help with heavier work. It is a lonely job, and gives you plenty of time to think. You suffer along with the sheep in all weather, you stay up all night listening for predators, you lead the sheep to different pastures according to the seasons. In the spring when you return home, you hope you will have many more sheep than you left with. The Bible has several stories of shepherds. My favorite one is Jacob, who had a great knowledge of genetics. He knew how to breed spotted sheep to enlarge his herd. David was a shepherd before he became king. God told the shepherds in the hills about the birth of Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that they were one of only two groups who were told of the birth? Perhaps because the Shepherd of Humanity had just been born.
All of this sheep discussion brings us to the realization that we are just like sheep. We often rush around with no direction, stick our sheep noses where they have no reason to be. We wander off the path, and lose our way. We have so much pride that we think we can handle anything, yet so many times we find our selves defenseless. We follow leaders blindly, not knowing where they are leading us – we just feel better following someone who seems to know where they are going. We need a Shepherd. We need to recognize his voice, and follow Him. We need his rod to protect us from predators, and his staff to keep us on the right path. Sheep do know their shepherd and follow him, just as we do.
But what do you really know about sheep? I have listened to many sermons on this Sunday and many of them are about sheep. But I am a shepherd. A part-time shepherd, but a shepherd. I know about sheep, and I would like to set the record straight on a few things.
Sheep are dumb. They die from panic and run into fenceposts and break their necks. Stray dogs or coyotes don’t have to touch them to kill them. If the herd panics, they run in any direction, even over a cliff. Rams will breed until they are exhausted and die – really. Sheep will find any way to get through a fence and get something they think is better on the other side. They have special dietary needs, and can die if they aren’t taken care of properly. Sheep have been bred for thousands of years for their meat, milk and wool. Not for brains or self-preservation. When the gospel reading speaks about being called through a gate, I cringe. Sheep will maim themselves trying to go through a small opening for something they want. Lambs get trampled that way. Sides get ripped up on wood, and legs get broken. This is true even of a small flock.
Sheep are directionless. Even if there is a lead ewe or bellweather, they may wander away from the flock and then not find their way back. Even older ewes do this, and lambs are the most vulnerable. One of the most startling parables for me is that of the lost sheep from the gospel of Luke. No earthly shepherd would leave the flock and search for the lost one. Although Jesus was speaking to tax collectors and Pharisees, they would still be startled at this story. Losses are a part of nature. It makes no human sense to leave those that can be kept safe to search for another that may be already gone.
Sheep are defenseless. As I said, natural selection doesn’t play a part in domesticated species, so any inclination to protect themselves or their young is largely lost. Sheep will challenge dogs that they feel can’t enforce the rules – but this is sheer stupidity. Dogs have the teeth to back up their orders, yet sheep (remember I said stupid) do so occasionally to see if the dog is paying attention.
Sheep do come when called – especially for dinner. In Biblical times several flocks would be put up in a corral for the night and called to separate them in the morning. My sheep know my voice, or actually my van as I drive through the field. They walk alongside the van up to the barn and wait sort of patiently as I prepare a meal for them. I use a dog to keep order and make sure that they don’t hurt themselves as they walk through the gate to get their meal.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Why? The rod is more of a club with spikes in it to protect against wolves. It has evolved into the scepter of kings. The staff is the crook, which is used to move and catch sheep and direct them where they need to go. Sometimes you have to get physical with sheep to get them where they need to be, and the crook comes in handy.
Many countries have legends about kings whose early careers were as shepherds. The youngest son was generally sent out to tend the flocks, as he was too young to help with heavier work. It is a lonely job, and gives you plenty of time to think. You suffer along with the sheep in all weather, you stay up all night listening for predators, you lead the sheep to different pastures according to the seasons. In the spring when you return home, you hope you will have many more sheep than you left with. The Bible has several stories of shepherds. My favorite one is Jacob, who had a great knowledge of genetics. He knew how to breed spotted sheep to enlarge his herd. David was a shepherd before he became king. God told the shepherds in the hills about the birth of Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that they were one of only two groups who were told of the birth? Perhaps because the Shepherd of Humanity had just been born.
All of this sheep discussion brings us to the realization that we are just like sheep. We often rush around with no direction, stick our sheep noses where they have no reason to be. We wander off the path, and lose our way. We have so much pride that we think we can handle anything, yet so many times we find our selves defenseless. We follow leaders blindly, not knowing where they are leading us – we just feel better following someone who seems to know where they are going. We need a Shepherd. We need to recognize his voice, and follow Him. We need his rod to protect us from predators, and his staff to keep us on the right path. Sheep do know their shepherd and follow him, just as we do.
