Have you ever been around sheep? Or had the opportunity to observe sheep for a length of time? Or read a book like Phillip Keller’s little book, Lessons from a Sheepdog?
As horrible as it sounds to say, sheep are truly stupid animals! Hmm. Maybe not so much stupid as totally heedless. Left to themselves, they wander wherever the next tasty clump of grass leads them, and they get lost or end up in danger–all too easily and too needlessly.
Aren’t we human beings too much like that? Instead of relying on the Lord, we like to pursue the next tasty-looking thing we see without regard for the fact that we may be wandering away from God’s perfect plan for our lives.
The twenty-third Psalm not only compares us to sheep, but is very specific about God being our provider and defender:
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Isaiah 55:6 says it so clearly.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
The “him” in that verse is Jesus. It is upon him that our sins are laid.
Matthew 9:36 shows Jesus’ compassion as being like that of a shepherd for His lost sheep:
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,
because they were harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd.
“All Like Sheep” not only reflects on those Scriptures, it emphasizes the job of Christians to help guide lost sheep on the right right to Heaven.
We’re all like sheep who’ve gone astray,
Lost in our best intentions.
We’ve nibbled our way down unknown paths
In search of greener grasses.
But the Good Shepherd found me
And brought me back,
Though it cost Him His life to save mine.
And now I dwell in His Father’s fold
And feed on His abundance.
His door is always open wide, and
Everyone is welcome.
But few know how to find the fold,
And fewer still have entered.
That’s why I stand outside the door.
That’s why I share my story.
We’re all like sheep who’ve gone astray.
Come in, make this your home, too.
You may listen to “All Like Sheep” here and find the free lead sheet here. The recording is in the key of C, not A.
Next week I plan to post a different version of the same song, and I’ll include other Scriptures related to us as sheep and the Lord as our provider. I’ll also make some comments I’ve not shared today.
I’m working on my twenty-fifth Christian novel, but progress is slow. The Angel on the Hill is my most recent publication. Use the QR code on the graphic with the covers on it to access my Amazon Author Page.
As I Come Singing. . . 