I’ve started reading through the Book of Psalms during my quiet time with the Lord (when my husband is not interrupting me). Recently I was reading Psalm 23 which I’ve read many, many times and it got me thinking…why are we always compared to sheep.

I’ve always read that sheep are not the smartest animals in the barn! After reading several commentaries and looking up a few word definitions, my idea has changed. Maybe being like sheep isn’t a bad thing!

8 Characteristics of Sheep…

1. Sheep know their Shepherd’s voice

According to google.com, “The Shepherd has specific calls to his sheep to stop, turn, or to move forward. Over time, the sheep learn to recognize the voice of the shepherd and learn to trust him. They will not listen, or obey, commands from others. They listen to the one voice they can trust.”

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27)

Are you listening to the voice of the Great Shepherd? Or are you listening to other distractions?

2. Sheep are defenseless

Have you ever heard a sheep growl, bark or even show their teeth in anger? The only defense the sheep have is to either kick or gather as a group to defend themselves. One of the main jobs of a shepherd is to make sure that there are no predators around. He has to make sure that the sheep are safe and at peace….not fearful.

“your rod and your staff, they comfort me” Psalm 23:4b

The shepherd's rod and staff has many uses…even today. Shepherds would use their rods

to protect their sheep by throwing them at bears, wolves, snakes or lions
Discipline a disobeying sheep
Count the sheep making sure that no one missing
Examines the sheep for parasites or injuries
Guiding the sheep onto the right path (away from danger)
Rescuing sheep from thorny bushes and fast-flowing waters
Gather his sheep close to his side

When the sheep know they were safe, they can sleep without fear. Warren Wiersbe says “the Lord doesn’t always remove the dangers from our lives, but He does help us overcome them and not be paralyzed by fear. This is what it means to be ‘more than conquerors’ and have peace in the midst of danger.” (Romans 8:31-39)

3. Sheep “Chew The Cud”

Sheep eat very quickly and when they are finished, they will lay down and “chew the cud”. It really sounds a bit disgusting and I won’t explain the process…but maybe that’s what we should do when we read the Word of God. Maybe when we read the Word, instead of just gulping it down, we need to “chew the Word” for a while to let it really digest.

Jean E Jones writes in the book “Discovering Hope in the Psalms” that “one way the Lord feeds us spiritual food is in the form of God’s word. We eat God’s words when we read the Bible, recite Scripture, or listen to biblical teaching. When we later bring the words back to our minds and “chew the cud” on them, we’re able to fully digest the meaning, absorb the words, and have them become part of us by doing what they say. Sheep cannot “chew the cud” when disturbed by predators, problematic sheep, or pest, so we can’t “chew the cud” on God’s words when we’re distracted by fear, relationship problems or annoyances”.

What things in your life are keeping you from spending time in God’s word and “chewing on the Word”?

4. Sheep need help to get up when they have fallen down

I’ve never seen a sheep on its back before. I’ve seen my dog and even a lion…but never a sheep. Sheep have to have help when they fall on their backs from the Shepherd. If a sheep is left on its back it can actually die from suffocation. It also makes them vulnerable to attacks from predators. A shepherd has to keep watch and if this happens, they have to roll it back onto its feet.

“He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms, He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11)

5. Sheep cannot care for themselves

I did not know this but a sheep cannot care for themselves when they get wounded. Other animals will lick their wounds but sheep rely on their shepherd to take care of them. A good shepherd checks his sheep every night and if a sheep is wounded, he will apply soothing oil. He also will apply oil to the head and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away.

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds” (Psalms 147:3)

Are you allowing the Lord to anoint your wounds or are you letting them fester and get infected?

6. Sheep will only drink from still waters

A sheep will not drink from a fast flowing stream. Sometimes the shepherd has to dam up a stream so that the sheep will be able to drink.

Occasionally there will be a few sheep that will get impatient and begin to drink from a pool of water that may be polluted. Likewise, don’t we sometimes get impatient with our Shepherd and turn to other things that we think will satisfy our thirst?

What polluted pools have you experienced?

7. Sheep have no sense of direction

Sheep don’t choose the right path instinctively. They must be led by the shepherd to fresh pastures. Sometimes we don’t choose the right path either. We want the easy way out! Isaiah 53:6 says “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.”

8. Sheep are not meant to carry heavy cargo

Sheep were not designed to carry a heavy load because they could be crushed under the weight.

God designed us the same way because we are not meant to carry a heavy burden. Psalms 55:22 says, “Cast your burdens on the Lord, and He will sustain you”

We Need To Be Like Sheep

Not only are we called to be like sheep, we are also called to be like the Good Shepherd. We need to:

Know the Shepherd’s voice and not listen to others
Rely on the Shepherd to care and defend us
“Chew the Cud” - let the Word of the Lord really be digested
Not only allow the Shepherd to help us when we have fallen down but allow others into our lives. We are not meant to carry a heavy burden. 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your care upon him, for He cares for you.” There is a popular phrase that says “Let Go and Let God”!
Allow the Shepherd to anoint us with the Holy Spirit
Wait for the Shepherd’s direction and let Him “direct our paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Are you following the Good Shepherd today? He is the only One that can lead you in the right path and safely protect you from fear.

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We are like Sheep and the Lord is our Shepherd - Psalm 23