Shepherd

Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NIV)

"Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.

Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people:

"Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD.

"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.

I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.

"The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.

I don't know very much about sheep.

OK, I don't really know anything at all about them.

But, of course, one can learn just enough to become dangerous out there on the internet.

Here's what wikipedia says about sheep, for what it's worth:

One calls a sheep that roams furthest away from the others an "outlier," this sheep ventures further away from the safety of the flock to graze, due to a larger flight zone, or a weakness that prevents it from obtaining enough forage when with the flock, while taking a chance that a predator, such as a wolf, will attack it first because of its isolation.

Another sheep, the bellwether, which never goes first but always follows an outlier, signals to the others that they may follow in safety. When it moves, the others will also move. The tendency to act as an outlier, bellwether or to fight for the middle of the flock stays with sheep throughout their adulthood; that is unless they have a scary experience which causes them to increase their flight zone.

I guess I always thought that sheep would "flock" together to protect the weak among them. But that's not true.

"Flocking" actually protects the strong. The strongest sheep fight their way into the center, while the "outliers" take their chances with the wolves because they don't really have any choice.

Sheep really do need a shepherd.

So do we.

After years of being scattered and vulnerable, due to the work of bad "shepherds" and their exile into Babylon, the "Good Shepherd" told the prophet Jeremiah that he was coming back to care for the flock.

The longed-for hope of the people was about the be fulfilled: a King...a shepherd...who would rule in the line of David.

We believe that King is Jesus. His shepherd's hook moves us toward the narrow path. The "days are coming" when we will celebrate the shepherd's birth. In him, we don't have to fight for the middle of the pack. He loves us all...especially the outliers.

Prayer: There are moments when we find ourselves afraid and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. May we know that Christ is King of our lives, and live in the peace and courage he gives us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Colossians 1:9-20