Metaphors: Good Shepherd

June 30, 2024

Pastor Josh Starnes presented today's message, "Metaphors: Good Shepherd." Here's a video of the message.

So what did shepherding look like in the ANE (Ancient Near East, the time period the Torah covers, late Bronze Age)?

A shepherd was often a child, though not always. This suggests it's never too young to be in service to others.

The shepherd often had two "sticks." One was a rod with a knob or ball on the end that might also have had nails sticking out of that ball on the end. This was a weapon against attacking animals. The other "stick" was a staff, what you usually picture when you think of a shepherd's crook with the "hook" at the top. This was both a walking stick and a stick by which the shepherd could grab and/or redirect a wayward sheep (using the crook around the sheep's neck). These two are the proverbial "rod and staff that comfort me" in Psalm 23 (see below).

The shepherd often carried a sling as well, as was famously used by David against Goliath. All this suggests that shepherds have proper tools.

Probably the most famous passage in the Old Testament that references a shepherd is Psalm 23. In some translations, the phrase "is my shepherd" (first line) is translated as "ruleth me" which refers to "feed, guide and govern me" as in Isaiah 40:11. Here's the 23rd Psalm (KJV):

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

As Pastor Josh made quite clear, Jesus is God, part of what we call the Triune God (3-in-1: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). So, "Lord" in the first line clearly includes Jesus.

Sheep in the Old Testament are often gifts to show goodwill. For example, Pharoah gives Abram a sheep (among other things) to gain his favor. Have you ever considered giving someone else the Good Shepherd as a gift?

Just as Jesus gave his life as the Good Shepherd for us all, a sheep (a ram, actually) gave its life in Isaac's place so that he and Abraham might live.

How well and conscientiously people care for sheep (and other animals) play key roles in Torah stories. For example, the process of finding a wife for Isaac reveals a unique level of energy for caring for others, including their animals. Read how much Rebekah did for a stranger (Abraham's servant looking for a wife for Isaac) in Genesis 24:19-20. She did things quickly and ran to accomplish them.

And who could forget that it is lamb's blood that is smeared on the doorposts to protect the Hebrews during the killing of the Egyptian firstborns (Exodus 12). Again, a sacrifice for protection. Clearly, this is a foreshadowing of the coming of the Lamb of God.

For a little more such discussion, visit "The Shepherd in the Old Testament" at ShepherdofSouls.com.

One last thought for today... Pastor Josh mentioned that the sheep know the shepherd's voice, and that likewise we must know the voice of God. Here's an interesting article (a bit long, read what you will) about knowing the voice of God: "KNOWING GOD’S VOICE" (PDF) by Patricia Hulsey.

Bonus

Laws in Deuteronomy

About 200 of the 613 laws of the Torah are in the Book of Deuteronomy. Chapters 12 through 26 contain Moses' review of the laws given to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

Richard D. Nelson categorizes these as follows: Purity in Worship (12:1 - 14:21), Life in the New Land (14:22 - 16:17), and Interpreting Traditional Laws (21:1 - 26:19).

Let's look at a few of these...

Right off the bat, God makes it clear that all evidence of Canaanite gods should be destroyed. Not the people, but rather their things. And this applies only in Canaan, not other lands. It also made clear that the Israelites are not to worship God in the same manner as the Canaanites worshiped their gods. This eliminated such things as human/child sacrifice and orgies.

While a place for properly doing sacrifices (animal and plants) was prescribed, where people could pray was anywhere. The prescribed place was to make sure that sacrifices were done properly, overseen by the Priests. This was not to limit where people could "find" God, i.e. pray to God or otherwise be "close" to Him. God is not physical so is available anywhere and everywhere. The writing makes it clear that the place is where He establishes His name, not where He is located.

Sacrifice included the people eating the meat or grains. The sacrificed item was not for God to consume (as was the expectation for pagan gods). God does not need to eat. Sacrifices were basically ritualized meat eating.

And while we're talking about sacrifice... Laws about sacrifice can also be looked upon as metaphors. We tend to assume that Ancient Near East (ANE) sacrifice meant some animal had to give its life in the process. But consider this... What if the real lesson here is that in order to get close to God one has to sacrifice something else. There are only so many hours in a day; all resources are limited for what we want to do. In our day, it could easily mean sacrificing some time at work to spend with God. The word for sacrifice (korban, קָרְבָּן) comes from the root word that means "close" or "near". To get close or near to God, something else must give.

Isn't it true that we sacrifice for whom and what we love and that we love for whom and what we sacrifice. This is why God and the Torah are so focused on loving and sacrificing for others (God, family, neighbors, and strangers) and not for self (wealth, fame, power, etc.). Those "self" targets of affection are generally referred to as false gods.

One is commanded to be happy in this New Land (Deuteronomy 12:7)!

And in 12:8 everyone is commanded not to act there (in the Promised Land) as they act now, "every man as he pleases" (or "what is right in his own eyes"). Doing what YOU think is right is where moral chaos enters, at least that is how the Torah describes moral chaos.

Bonus2

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (Movie)

From the movie's website: "Inspired by the powerful true story, Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a fire in the hearts of their rural church to embrace kids in the foster system that nobody else would take. By doing the impossible - adopting 77 children - this East Texas community proved that, with real, determined love, the battle for America's most vulnerable can be won."

The movie opens July 4th and appears to be in most Colorado Springs theaters.