[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during October 2022]
Ghita is one of my neighbours, he has a small flock of sheep. At this time of year they are kept near to home and they are often seen grazing on patches of roadside grass. Unlike the classical image of a shepherd playing his flute and warding off lions and bears, the main danger for Ghita’s sheep is the passing traffic. He will sit by the roadside and, without raising his voice, he is able to keep the flock from wandering into the road. As evening falls the sheep willingly follow him back to their pen. A peaceful pastoral scene!
But Ghita has been taken ill – what will happen to the sheep? A neighbour has taken on the task of looking after them. He is diligent in his efforts but it is interesting to see how differently the sheep react to the shepherd they know compared with the shepherd they don’t. They want to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the road and, of course, where one explores the others follow!
Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
Isaiah 61 v5 [NIVUK]
Shepherds get a lot of mentions in the Bible. Starting with Abel, the son of Adam and Eve, we read of such examples as Rachel the shepherdess, the sons of Jacob who took better care of their sheep than they did of their brother, Moses who led the exodus from Egypt, David the psalmist and the shepherds who saw the glories of the nativity. It seems that God uses caring for sheep and goats as good training for the real work to come.
Amos was one of the shepherds of Tekoa; he wrote a minor prophecy with major implications. He lived during a time of relative peace and prosperity but, in a vision, he was instructed to rebuke the people of Israel for their complacency and indifference. He started by describing the impending judgement on a nation at some distance. No doubt many people said “Those events are far away – they will not affect us here”. How many people today have a similar attitude towards events that they think are a long way off, geographically or time-wise?
The judgements that Amos announced came steadily closer to home: distant relatives, neighbours, kindred – all received judgement. Then it was the turn of the people of Israel themselves. They had ignored the warnings, as have so many people right up to the present day. We all, sooner or later, will have to face a judgement. Will it be negative – a rebuke – or might it be positive, as in the deciding of rewards. One thing is certain, it will not be indifferent.[1]
Jesus himself had a lot to say about shepherds, both good ones and bad. He described himself as “the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep”. He added “I know my sheep and my sheep know me”.[2] Can you echo the opening words of Psalm 23 and say ‘The Lord is my shepherd’?
For a final thought we turn to another vision, that of John as recorded in the book of Revelation:
For the Lamb who is in the centre of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes [giving them eternal comfort].
Revelation 7 v17 [AMP]
Are you looking forward to a tear-free future?
[1] Revelation 3 v15-16
[2] John 10 v11,14
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
