February 08, 2018
Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Who is a shepherd?
In a nomadic state of society, every man, from the sheikh down to the slave, is more or less a shepherd. The progenitors of the Jews in the patriarchal age were nomads, and their history is rich in scenes of pastoral life.
The occupation of tending the flocks was undertaken,not only by the sons of wealthy chiefs; but even by their daughters.
The office of the eastern shepherd, as described in the Bible, was attended with much hardship, and even danger. He was exposed to the extremes of heat and cold, his food frequently consisted of the precarious supplies.
He had to encounter the attacks of wild beasts, occasionally of the larger species, such as lions, nerves, panthers and bears, nor was he free from the risk of robbers or predators hordes.
To meet these various foes the shepherds equipment consisted of the following articles: a mantle, made probably of sheep skin with the fleece on, which he turned inside out in cold weather, as implied in the comparison in; a scrip or wallet, containing a small amount of food, a sling, which is still the favorite weapon of the Bedouin shepherd, and lastly, a which served the double purpose of a weapon against foes and a crook for the management of the flock.
If the shepherd was at a distance from his home, he was provided with a light tent, the removal of which was easily effected.
The routine of the shepherds duties appears to have been as follows.
In the morning he led forth his flock from the fold which he did by going before them and calling to them, as is still usual in the East; arrived at the pasturage he watched the flock with the assistance of dogs, and should any sheep stray, he had to search for it until he found it, he supplied them with water, either at a running stream or at troughs attached to wells, at evening he brought them back to the fold, and reckoned them to see that none were missing, by passing them "under the rod" as they entered the door of the enclosure checking each sheep, as it passed, by a motion of the hand, and, finally, he watched the entrance of the fold throughout the night, acting as porter.
The Jesus is our chief shepherd and he servers all the requirements and made all the necessary sacrifice for the sheep. He has shown us the perfect example how leadership should be done.
This teaching points to the fact that the life of Christian is the life of a sheep under the tutelage of a shepherd to become a perfect shepherd as he grows.
We are to be concern about the welfare and development of all entrusted to us its our life its our duty let's do it with all our life.
Look to the lord and learn and let your life be lived affecting the lives others.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The shepherds office thus required great watchfulness, particularly by night. It also required tenderness toward the young and feeble, particularly in driving them to and from the pasturage
Who is a shepherd?
In a nomadic state of society, every man, from the sheikh down to the slave, is more or less a shepherd. The progenitors of the Jews in the patriarchal age were nomads, and their history is rich in scenes of pastoral life.
The occupation of tending the flocks was undertaken,not only by the sons of wealthy chiefs; but even by their daughters.
The office of the eastern shepherd, as described in the Bible, was attended with much hardship, and even danger. He was exposed to the extremes of heat and cold, his food frequently consisted of the precarious supplies.
He had to encounter the attacks of wild beasts, occasionally of the larger species, such as lions, nerves, panthers and bears, nor was he free from the risk of robbers or predators hordes.
To meet these various foes the shepherds equipment consisted of the following articles: a mantle, made probably of sheep skin with the fleece on, which he turned inside out in cold weather, as implied in the comparison in; a scrip or wallet, containing a small amount of food, a sling, which is still the favorite weapon of the Bedouin shepherd, and lastly, a which served the double purpose of a weapon against foes and a crook for the management of the flock.
If the shepherd was at a distance from his home, he was provided with a light tent, the removal of which was easily effected.
The routine of the shepherds duties appears to have been as follows.
In the morning he led forth his flock from the fold which he did by going before them and calling to them, as is still usual in the East; arrived at the pasturage he watched the flock with the assistance of dogs, and should any sheep stray, he had to search for it until he found it, he supplied them with water, either at a running stream or at troughs attached to wells, at evening he brought them back to the fold, and reckoned them to see that none were missing, by passing them "under the rod" as they entered the door of the enclosure checking each sheep, as it passed, by a motion of the hand, and, finally, he watched the entrance of the fold throughout the night, acting as porter.
The Jesus is our chief shepherd and he servers all the requirements and made all the necessary sacrifice for the sheep. He has shown us the perfect example how leadership should be done.
This teaching points to the fact that the life of Christian is the life of a sheep under the tutelage of a shepherd to become a perfect shepherd as he grows.
We are to be concern about the welfare and development of all entrusted to us its our life its our duty let's do it with all our life.
Look to the lord and learn and let your life be lived affecting the lives others.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
The shepherds office thus required great watchfulness, particularly by night. It also required tenderness toward the young and feeble, particularly in driving them to and from the pasturage
