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Where grazing pastures in the Middle East are concerned, put aside visions of verdant landscapes where fat, woolly sheep graze and the shepherd has, as it were, a picnic on the lawn. The Middle Eastern landscape is anything but. Rather pastures are brown arid places, which David describes as “a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Ps. 63:1). Against such a desert, you can almost feel the thirst of the sheep, and appreciate, in a new way, Psalm 23. The LORD (Almighty Yahweh) leads the shepherd David to green pastures, beside the quiet waters, and restores his soul: body and spirit refreshing.
Where shepherds are concerned, Middle Eastern ones differ from Western ones too. They do not use sheepdogs and fences, for instance, to coral the sheep. They do not use fear to drive the flock – the attentive sheep follow their shepherd’s voice. The stubborn or silly wanderer might have its leg broken, so that when healed – the shepherd carries it while its leg is mending – the animal is not likely to stray. This is a good object lesson for us.
In our local Church, elders as earthly shepherds are commanded to feed their flock. They are to rightly teach God’s Word so that their charges do not starve spiritually by day and by night. There needs to be continual watching of the flock; think of the shepherds watching over their flock by night on the night of Jesus’ birth. Also, earthly shepherds are not to be greedy for money (as hirelings or pretenders are), but eager to serve (not as overlords but overseers).
Jesus our Good Shepherd surpasses all shepherds. He went beyond body and spirit nourishing. Like sheep, we wandered away but Christ gave His life for us and brought us back to Him as Overseer of our souls (1 Pet. 2:25). Having us in His fold, He guards us from falling prey to the adversary (1 Pet. 5:8). Therefore, we must strive to hear His voice; know Him as we are known (Jn. 10:4, 14), and submit to His perfecting us – as great Shepherd – for every good work (Heb. 13:20-21). Therefore, when He, as Chief Shepherd, appears and we see Him as the Lamb on the throne, we will worship Him (Rev. 7:17). The Lamb will lead His heavenly flock to eternal springs of living water, where no tear will touch the eye. How wonderful that would be – Praise the Lord!
