The image God as a shepherd and God's people as sheep reoccurs frequently throughout Holy Scripture.  Of course, we could see in this the very mundane practicality that, since this was a common occupation for the Israelites and their ancestors, these symbols were full of meaning for them.  They understood fully the life of a shepherd and his relationship to his sheep.  Furthermore, they were likely to have a great respect for the sheep on which they depended for clothing, milk, cheese, food, and even shelter and comfort.

However, Holy Scripture has multiple layers of meaning.  For example, there may be a narrative of a historical event which also has an allegorical interpretation to teach a moral lesson, a prophetic interpretation with the characters being "types" of future persons, a symbolic interpretation with human persons representing Divine or spiritual persons (i.e. the Persons of the Holy Trinity and angelic beings) and even more interpretations which might be less obvious.

Way back in Genesis we read, "And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?  that ye shall say, Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians" (Gen 46:33-34, ASV).  The Israelite shepherds are contrasted with the Egyptian cowboys.  From at least the time of the Exodus if not sooner, Egypt symbolized evil, pagan materialism and Israel symbolized the faithful followers of the One True God.  Also back then, Jacob says, "The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecute him: But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel), Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, And by the Almighty, who shall bless

thee." (Gen 49:23-25a, ASV) Furthermore, in the succession of Joshua to replace Moses we read, "And Moses spake unto Jehovah, saying, Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Jehovah be not as sheep which have no shepherd." (Num 27:15-17, ASV) Finally, in the earliest days of the Church, the Church became known as the New Israel or the True Israel, as the Apostle Paul wrote, "And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." (Gal 6:16, ASV)

Now you may ask "What does it mean for us to be sheep and for God to be our shepherd? What does this have to do with my daily life?  Besides, when somebody is called a sheep today, doesn't that mean that he or she is a stupid mindless follower, not something that I'd want to be?"  I would have to say. "Let's look at what a shepherd does for his sheep and what they mean to him."

     A friend of mine told me he was somewhere (overseas)

     and noticed that they raised sheep. But instead of

     sheep dogs, they used donkeys. He saw several flocks,

     with not a human in sight, only a donkey leading them.

     He exclaim ed to those riding with him, "There goes a

     flock following a jackass...But  I've seen that before,"

     he added, glancing my way.

     You know, I think he was trying to tell me something...

     Wonder what it was?

(Walking around the front with a shepherd's staff and "instant" shepherd's garb speaking as a shepherd) Let's do a little imagining:

The terrain where I herd my sheep is varied.  If I have them in western and northern Israel it is lush, tranquil, peaceful land.  However, when we are in eastern and southern areas, it is full of hills, rocks, cracks, crevice; it is barren and  dusty.  It is impossible to leave my sheep alone. I must search for food and defend against animals. It is a real struggle for survival

My goal is for the sheep to trust me, their shepherd. I care my for sheep. I lead the sheep by walking in front of them. I wouldn't use a dog that pushes and herds the sheep from behind. Also  they know my voice. It gives them the assurance that I'm there.  I want them to follow my voice and path because they trust me. I'm always talking to them especially when it gets dark; and I even sing to them sometimes.  Furthermore, I know my sheep.  I helped each ewe give birth to her lambs.  I've given names to all my sheep.  I shear the sheep.  I find shelter and security for the sheep each evening and protect them from the cold and from enemies.

No two of my sheep are alike. Each one has  distinctive markings, the name I've given it, and a personality; and they are not dumb!!  They have the freedom to follow me or not.  The frisky lambs have a spirit of adventure. They want to explore and detest the pressure of the adult sheep.  Of course, the adult sheep like the patterns of habit, going where we've always gone for grass and resisting my new choices sometimes, even leaving to find the old pastures where they'll only find suffering. They all have difficulty at times in hearing my voice because of elements:  wind, storms, heat of the sun, other sounds like birds, adventure, freedom. When their own way proves less than satisfactory they are more willing to follow my way and trust me.  That's why it's important for me to build trust and confidence with the sheep.  And you know, I ache when sheep suffer;  I'm anxious when one is lost;  I feel the pain when one is stuck in the briars.

I DO ALL I CAN AND GIVE ALL I HAVE TO PROVIDE AND PROTECT THE SHEEP, BUT I CAN NOT FORCE THEM TO FOLLOW.  WHEN THEY ARE LOST, I GO SEARCHING FOR THEM.  MY JOY IS IMMENSE WHEN I FIND THE LOST OR WOUNDED ONE.

(Set aside shepherd's staff and garb.)

No two of us alike.  We have or at least have had a variety of occupations like  masons,  nurses,  cleaners,  accountants, school teachers,  farmers, business owners and such.  We have a variety of opinions:  some like Rush Limbaugh;  others listen to Public Radio;  some like classical music, others prefer jazz;  some like gospel songs and hymns, others prefer contemporary rhythms and new songs. Also, there are other sheep who are not here:  people with the same diversity of background, occupation, and opinions as we who are gathered here.

Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd.  He tells us, "I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep." Also, "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."

In Psalm 23 we are assured that He cares for the sheep, knows the sheep and calls them by name - nourishes them, leads them, walks with them through trials, comforts them. He wants us, His followers to have an abundant life and that has nothing to do with materialism or riches by the way.

We must respond to the Good Shepherd.  We must learn to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.  To know (yadah) is to recognize his voice and place one's trust in the Shepherd.  We have woven Christian traditions into our society and sometimes its hard to hear the voice of the Shepherd amidst the drone of a superficially Christianized culture.  We sing "silent night, holy night" during the jostling of Christmas shopping.  We sing "up from the grave he arose" while promoting candy, the Easter bunny and new clothes.

In Acts 4 it says "there is no other name" in which salvation is found.  The only way to overcome evil and be reconciled to God is through the Good Shepherd Jesus who laid down his life for the sheep.  We must sort through all the other voices and find the voice of the Good Shepherd.

The religious leaders of Peter's time could tolerate the idea of the resurrection, but when Peter proclaimed that Jesus was resurrected, they were offended.  According to a Gallup poll, more than 90% of Americans believe there is a God.  However, the idea that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation is offensive to many.  [Even for us, it is difficult to obey the voice of Jesus - to follow his voice and the example he gave us.  Yet we are called to respond to the Good Shepherd.]

Listening and discerning the voice of God is a difficult discipleship task for us today.  It is not a democratic task where the most votes determines God's voice.  It is a communal task - where people come together and listen to each other.  It is not a power play.  It is at times uncomfortable.  Sometimes in our fear we are prone to defend God or speak for God, but we are unwilling to listen for God's voice.  We - not just our society - but we here in

this room and in this town are very individualistic.  We want the Church to condemn others for what we believe is wrong.  But when the Church comes to us we say  "that's none of your business."  It is easier and much less threatening to be individualistic than to experience community.

We are called to be brave sheep - because we know the Shepherd.  Jesus' sheep are full of confidence and trust in the Shepherd, not passive.  While there are green pastures and cool waters in our lives, life also is contains dry, barren hills and hard, rocky crevices.  But we have the confidence that the Shepherd is with us which enables us to face the evil which is in this world.

The Shepherd calls us to active love.  We do not choose our table guests in God's kingdom.  A place is prepared, but as the psalmist says, it is prepared in the presence of our enemies.  If we are not prepared to sit down at the table with those we believe are our enemies, then there will be no place at the table set for us.

We live among wolves and fear being devoured. Sometimes we label people who have not heard the voice of the Shepherd as wolves or we fail to recognize other sheep and perceive them as wolves. The real wolves aren't on the outside but on the inside.  Whether we call them demons or evil attitudes and thoughts, the spirits of hate, anger, greed, disrespect, and violence are the wolves.  They first devour the one who carries them and then, through them, devour others.

Whether we are talking about the two teenagers in Littleton, Colorado, or the two preteens in Jonesborough, Arkansas, or the armed robber in Tampa, Florida, it is easy to see them as "evil people," the wolves.  THEY ARE NOT!  Rather, they are the first group of victims of evil.  Those whom they attacked are the second group of victims.  If we hate them, judge them, and give in to anger toward them, we become the third group of victims that evil takes.  Let us, instead, pray for all of the victims.

If our lives consist of active loving we will disclose the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd to some who have not yet recognized it and enable them to place their trust in Jesus.

I want to share with you the words to a song which describe the Good Shepherd.  And they are words of promise and comfort to us as we seek to discern the Shepherd's voice and be brave sheep.

"Fear not for I have redeemed you;  I have called you by

name.  I have called you by name, you are mine.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

 and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you;

 when you walk through fire you shall not be burned

 and the flame shall not consume you.

"Because you are precious and I love you,

You whom I formed for my glory,

You whom I called by my name,

I will gather together.

You are my witnesses, I have chosen you,

that you may know and believe me.

You are my servants for the world to see

I am the Lord, I'm among you.

"Fear not for I have redeemed you, I have called you by

name.  I have called you by name, you are mine."

[A large portion of this sermon is borrowed from one by Timothy Weaver of Deep Run East Mennonite Church and the donkeys and sheep story comes from Bass Mitchell]