Sheep And Shepherds – Table Of Contents

Sheep And Shepherds In The Bible – Introduction

Of all the animals in the Bible, there is not one mentioned as often as sheep. There are over 500 mentions of sheep and shepherds – their human handlers. Sheep were the primary livestock in ancient Israel, and they became a common symbol of Israel, with God as their Good Shepherd. Many stories included sheep in the narrative, and the Psalms mention sheep often. In the Gospels, Jesus referred to them often, as their sacrifice foreshadowed His giving His own life for the world. Take some time and review this topic. Experience God’s Love and plan for man through the eyes of Sheep, and the Wisdom of the Good Shepherd.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
John 10:14-16 KJV

The Sheep – From The Scripture Alphabet Of Animals

I suppose you think you already know as much about sheep and lambs as I can tell you, and perhaps you do. Yet I dare say you never took up your Bible to see how many times they are mentioned there, or how many beautiful things are said about them. Abel, who, as you know, was the third man that lived on the earth, was a “keeper of sheep;” and there have always been a great many shepherds in the world from that time to this. Some of the men who lived in old times had a great many sheep. Job had seven thousand, which God allowed to be taken from him; but afterwards gave him twice as many-fourteen thousand. At the time when Solomon’s beautiful temple was dedicated to God, he offered a sacrifice of a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. If you want to know how many that is, try to think of a pasture with a hundred sheep in it-then think of a hundred pastures, just like it, with just as many sheep in each-then think of those hundred pastures taken twelve times over, and you will begin to understand how many there were. It is not common with us to have persons whose whole business it is to take care of sheep, but that was always the way in Bible countries. This was not done by servants, at least not always; for a great many rich men employed their children as shepherds. Rachel, who was afterwards the wife of Jacob, “kept her father’s sheep”-so did Jacob’s twelve sons-so did Moses for his father-in-law.

When God was about to make David king, he sent Samuel the prophet to do it by anointing him, or putting oil upon his head. David had six brothers, and Samuel did not know which of all the sons was to be king; but both he and their father Jesse supposed it would be one of the older ones, and nobody remembered even to call little David, who had been left with the sheep, until they found that he was the one whom God had chosen. David often spoke of his shepherd-life after he became a king, and even when he was an old man. You remember that most beautiful psalm of his, the twenty-third, “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.” That is the way they are accustomed to do in those countries: the shepherd walks on, and the sheep follow where he wishes them to go. So Christ says, “And when he (the shepherd) putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

The sheep in many countries are in danger from wolves, which prowl about and try to carry them off; so it is necessary to watch them by night as well as by day. You remember the shepherds were watching their flocks by night when the bright angels appeared to tell the glad tidings that A SAVIOR had come; and they were the first to hear that sweet song in the stillness of the night, when all around were hushed in sleep.

The sheep is so timid and gentle that it needs the protection of man, and without the care of the shepherd would often stray away and be lost, or devoured by other animals. David says, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep;” and in Isaiah we read, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Is not this true of us-that we have gone away, far away, from Jesus our good shepherd? Perhaps, dear child, you are wandering still; but why should you thus go on, alone, and every hour in danger? Why should you, when he calls you back with his voice of kindness, and is ready to “gather you with his arms, and carry you in his bosom.” as the shepherd does his tender lambs? (The Scripture Alphabet Of Animals – The Sheep – Harriet Newell Cook (1814-1843) – Published In 1842 – Public Domain)

Sheep And Shepherds – In The Beginning

On the 6th Day, the same day as man, God created all the wild beasts and livestock – which of course included sheep. (Genesis 1:24-31) And after He formed Adam’s body, and placed him in the Garden, God brought all the animals (including sheep) to Adam, who then named each type. (Genesis 2:7-20)

2 And [next] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
4 And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering, [Heb. 11:4.]
Genesis 4:2, 4 AMP

God likely sacrificed sheep to make the first clothes for Adam and Eve after the fall, looking forward to the promised Redeemer. (Genesis 3:21, Hebrews 9:22) I assume this is true because of the occupation and sacrifice presented by Abel, their second named child. Abel was a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer, or a tiller of the ground. When it came time to worship God, by faith, Abel offered a lamb as his substitute as a sacrifice to God. It was accepted. Since Abel did it by faith, we know that he followed God’s Word (faith comes from hearing God’s Word – Romans 10:17). Cain offered produce from the cursed ground. It was not accepted. There is a profound contrast here. Following God’s way versus man’s way. One was by faith, while the other was by works. All religious error, including much within Christianity, flows from a choice between following Christ, or religion, God’s Grace, or human merit, His Word, or the reasoning of theologians. Choose your path wisely. It will save you from much frustration. And even after murdering his brother, God was still reaching out to Cain. God is LOVE. He will never give up on you as long as you are alive. He kept reaching out to Cain not wanting to lose anyone. (Genesis 3 & 4, Romans 1, Ephesians 2, Hebrews 11:4)

The Speckled And Spotted Sheep And Goats Will Be My Wages

Jacob bought Esau’s birthright and tricked his father Isaac into giving him the Blessing that belonged to his older brother. In fear of what Esau might do, Jacob ran away to the land of his mother, Rebekah, and started working for his Uncle Laban. Jacob lived a very dishonest life. And his harvest manifested while working for Laban. First, Jacob worked for 7 years to marry the younger daughter, Rachel. Instead, Laban tricked him into marrying the older one, Leah. This meant that Jacob had to serve him for 7 more years for the right to marry Rachel. During this long period of time Jacob was becoming a different man, and turning his attention to God. (Genesis 25-29)

Laban recognized that Jacob was honest and a hard worker. The Blessing of God that was on Jacob’s life was making Laban prosperous, so he did not want Jacob to leave. He began to change his wages, doing this a total of 10 times. But as his family grew, God told Jacob it was time to return to the land of his father. This presented a problem because he knew Laban would try and cheat him out of his wealth. In a dream, God revealed what he should do.

38 Then he set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred and conceived when they came to drink,
39 The flocks bred and conceived in sight of the rods and brought forth lambs and kids streaked, speckled, and spotted.
Genesis 30:38-39 AMP

He told Laban it was time for him to be paid for all his work and the prosperity he had brought Laban. They agreed that Jacob’s wages should be all the lambs and goats that were born streaked, speckled, spotted, or dark. This way they would both know which animals belonged to each other. But Laban, always eager to get the upper hand, removed all the sheep and goats that fit that description and placed them with his sons. With those animals removed, it was less likely that white sheep and goats would produce streaked or spotted offspring. But Laban did not know that God was watching and would not let Jacob be cheated anymore.

God instructed Jacob to place peeled white-streaked branches next to the watering troughs where the sheep and goats came to drink and mate. When they looked upon the branches, they produced speckled and spotted offspring, adding to Jacob’s flock and herd. When they matured and came back to mate, they produced even stronger and more plentiful offspring, ever increasing his wealth at Laban’s expense. Laban tried to change the deal, but the outcome would always favor Jacob. An angel even confirmed this to Jacob in a dream:

The angel said, ‘Look up, and you will see that only the streaked, speckled, and spotted males are mating with the females of your flock. For I have seen how Laban has treated you.’

(Genesis 31:12 NLT)

After Jacob’s wealth increased immensely, Laban and his sons were very jealous of his success. Jacob knew it was time to leave with all his family and goods. While his uncle was away shearing sheep, his family departed for his home. Laban and his sons pursued them for seven days before they caught up with them. But on the sixth night, God warned Laban in a dream, “Be careful what you say to Jacob.” (Genesis 31:24)

Laban approached Jacob and told everyone what God had said. He was not going to harm Jacob. But he was angry that his idols had been stolen from his home. The accusation offended Jacob. He rashly declared a curse of death on anyone who had taken the idols. Unbeknownst to him, his wife Rachel had taken and hidden them in her tent. One can only guess as to her motivation. The curse would manifest a short time later, when she died prematurely in childbirth. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Choose your words wisely. Don’t open the door to the evil one to steal, kill, and destroy. (Genesis 35:16-20, Deuteronomy 30:11-20, Proverbs 13:2-3, 18:20-21, Matthew 5:33-37, 12:26-37, John 10:10, James 5:12)

Laban made a covenant of peace with Jacob. After bidding farewell to his daughters and grandchildren, he returned home with his sons and servants. The whole ordeal could have been dramatically different, but Jacob was learning that when you trust God, He will watch your back. No matter what scheme Laban could think up, it would always end up favoring Jacob. The favor of God is a powerful force on your life. Even though Jacob had a rocky start, he learned to depend on God for everything. When he listened carefully to God, and obeyed His instructions, everything prospered. Not even his enemies could hurt him.(Genesis 30-32)

Jacob had every reason to despise Laban. He could have complained about his job, or simply not done his best work. Instead, he did his job the very best he could, treating Laban’s animals as if they were his own – and shortly thereafter, many were. God sees everything. When the Children of Israel (God would later change Jacob’s name to Israel) were enslaved in Egypt, God made sure that they left with all the wealth they and their ancestors had generated in that nation. When Satan stole everything from Job, God made sure he was not only restored, but ended up twice as wealthy. (Exodus 12:35-36, Psalm 105:37-38, Job 42:10-17)

As a Believer, God is your source. You have one command – to love God with all your heart, and to love others as yourself. That means whatever you do in life, do it as if God is your boss. Respect the leaders God has placed over you, and love them. Treat your employees like God’s very own children. Whether you are digging a ditch, or cleaning bathrooms, make sure that ditch is perfect in every way, and those bathrooms are spotless. One day, God may give you all the land where the ditch is located, or you may own the entire building housing those bathrooms.

Even if someone attempts to deceive, cheat, or abuse you in some way, forgive them and let God take responsibility for the offense. Vengeance belongs to Him. Remember, He is a God of mercy, so don’t pray for someone to be destroyed. That is not how God, who is Love, works. You do what you can do in love, and leave everything else to God. God’s Favor and Blessing will take care of you. (Leviticus 19:1-18, Psalm 94:1-23, Matthew 5:1-48, Mark 10:42-45, Romans 12:9-21, Ephesians 6:1-9, Colossians 3:18-25, Philemon 1:15-19, James 5:1-11)

He Raised That Little Lamb Like One Of His Children

One day the prophet Nathan appeared before King David. He told David the story of two men. The first was very rich and owned many sheep and cattle. The second was very poor and worked very hard to buy one little lamb. He raised it as one of his children and cuddled it like a baby in his arms. It drank from his cup and ate from his plate.

The rich man had a guest come to visit. Instead of killing one of his own animals, he came and took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.

David was horrified by the actions of the rich man. He declared, Any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay the poor man 4 lambs for the one he stole and for having no pity.

Nathan calmly replied, That man is you.

God sent Nathan to rebuke David for what he had done. David had stolen another man’s wife and then made sure her husband, a loyal servant, was killed in battle. The events that Nathan described were meant to be a wake up call to the gravity of David’s actions. Nathan quoted God, I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from Saul. I gave you his house and would have given you much, much more. (2 Samuel 12)

David confessed his sin and God forgave him. But as with most sins, there were consequences. Within David’s own family there was turmoil and rebellion throughout his reign. Sin opens the door for Satan to steal, kill, and destroy. Under the old covenant, there was little God could do when His people strayed. Under the new covenant, a much better covenant, God through Jesus can deal with the sinful nature and remove it. But even as new creations, we can still miss the mark. When this happens, simply confess the sin and it is immediately wiped away and forgotten. But unconfessed sin can cause serious problems. It severs the link between you and God. If you make a mistake, be quick to ask for forgiveness and receive it with joy. This will reconnect you to God and renew your fellowship with Him. Also, it is important to forgive others and yourself. Because if you don’t forgive, God can’t forgive you. And one final thought. When you confess a sin is not the first time God finds out about it. He knows everything that you do, even your thoughts. Nothing happens without His knowledge. Remember that whenever you are tempted to step out of Love. (Isaiah 44:22, 1:18; Matthew 18:21-35; John 10:10, Romans 8:1-17; Hebrews 8:7-13; 1 John 1:8-10, 2:1-2)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

No other Psalm is so universally known and loved as the 23rd. In just 6 short verses, it captures the wonderful completeness of God’s love for all his children, compared to the love between sheep and shepherds.

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. (Psalm 23:1 NLT)

Just like a good shepherd, God will provide bountifully everything you need. He will protect you, keep you well, and in perfect peace. I like the Amplified translation best as it reads, I shall not lack. Note the use of the emphatic shall, meaning there is no uncertainty. Take God at his Word and believe and receive all that the Good Shepherd has given you. (Psalm 84:10-12, Philippians 4:6-8, 19)

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. (Psalm 23:2 NLT)

Sheep are timid and defenseless creatures, so they completely depend on their shepherd to find calm streams to drink from and peaceful meadows for grazing. In the same way, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to give you perfect peace and victory over all the power of the enemy. (Psalm 34; John 10:1-18; Romans 8:31-39)

THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. [Rev. 7:17.]
Psalm 23:1-2 AMP

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. (Psalm 23:3 NLT)

When you accept the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus, you are spiritually reborn, a new creation with a clean slate. You are declared righteous, or in right standing with God, by your faith. But don’t just stop there. Read, study, and meditate on the Word. The Word is Jesus. and it brings life, renews your strength, heals, provides wisdom for success, and draws you closer to God’s perfect will for your life. Which in turn brings glory to God. (Joshua 1:1-9, Psalm 103, Proverbs 3, Isaiah 53, John 1:1-18, 15:1-17, Romans 8:1-17, Colossians 1:9-14, James 1:6)

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NLT)

Oh this is such a wonderful promise. As a child of God, if you know that God loves you, how can you be afraid? You have the Creator of the universe and an army of angels ready to defend you. You have the shield of faith to stop all the fiery darts of the enemy. The Holy Spirit dwells in you and is available to give you wisdom and direction when difficulty arises. You have the name of Jesus, the name above EVERY name, to wield along with the sword of truth, God’s Word, when its time to go on the offensive. There is a reason the phrase Fear Not appears so many times in the Bible. There is no need for fear when you have built your faith on God’s Word. You cannot lose! (John 16:5-15; Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 Peter 5:1-11)

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. (Psalm 23:5 NLT)

For the Christian, there is only one enemy, Satan. And he has been thoroughly defeated by Jesus. You can sit down in peace and enjoy all the Blessing even while armies are surrounding you. Whether its a pesky bully, or an army of terrorists, you are not afraid. To a child of God, they mean nothing because they are already defeated. You rejoice in the victory and the enemy is forced to flee, or destroy themselves in panic and confusion. God has anointed you for a great purpose and people will oppose you. But again it does not matter. By faith you overcome every obstacle, win every battle, move every mountain, and live so victoriously that you win people to Christ simply out of awe for what God has done in your life! Now is a good time to give God some praise. (Exodus 14:13-14, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 2 Kings 8:1-6, 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, Psalm 91, 92, Mark 11:22-25, Hebrews 2, 1 John 2:7-14)

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6 NLT)

As a Christian, we look forward to an eternity with Christ. Heaven will be a place of perfect love, joy, and complete peace. But you don’t have to wait for death to experience it. Jesus came to give you abundant life NOW. The Blessing of Abraham belongs to you. That means you are empowered to prosper in everything you do. You are to abound in all good works so God can use you as a channel to bless others. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Psalm 112, John 10:10, Galatians 3:14)

Affirm it every day, Jesus is my Lord and Shepherd. I lack nothing! To learn more click here Psalm 23.

There Were Shepherds In The Field Watching Over Their Sheep By Night.

The night Christ was born, there were shepherds watching over their sheep. An angel appeared to them and they were greatly afraid by the glory of the Lord that lit up the night sky. But the angel told them not to be afraid. He was there to bring them the Good News of the birth of Jesus. The angel told them that they would find the child wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger. And then the sky was filled with an army of angels praising God by saying:

Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. (Luke 2:14 NLT)

After the angels left, the shepherds ran to Bethlehem to see Jesus. They found the child just as the angel had described. And they praised God for Jesus and told everyone what they had witnessed. They shared the good news that God is with us. Now that is some really good news! (Luke 2:1-20)

8 And in that vicinity there were shepherds living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching [in shifts] over their flock by night.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.
Luke 2:8-10 AMP

It seems very appropriate that the angels would announce the birth of Jesus to shepherds. He is called the lamb of God, good shepherd, gate of the sheep and shepherd of the people. Who else could appreciate him more than people who lived this life every day. I have often wondered if like David, these shepherds talked to God daily and were expectantly waiting for the Messiah. They may have even heard about the events surrounding John’s birth and knew the prophecies and signs of the times. The lesson we can learn from the shepherds is when you seek Jesus with all your heart, you will find Him.

Some Reading Suggestions For The Nativity Of Jesus:

Angels, Shepherds & Good Tidings of Great Joy – A paraphrase of the Nativity story

Kirsi, The Little Lost Lamb – A story about a little lamb that risks her life to see Jesus. This is a reimagining of the Nativity story includes a lesson on searching for Christ, and a video adaptation of the story.

For additional Nativity of Jesus resources

I Am The Good Shepherd. My Sheep Hear My Voice And Follow Me.

In John, Jesus gives a lengthy description describing himself as both the Good Shepherd and the Gate of the Sheep. He was describing two very important roles for himself. First, as the gate, nobody can get to God except through Jesus. He tells us:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NLT)

Only through faith in Jesus, believing that His sacrifice and resurrection paid the entire penalty of sin on your behalf, can you have peace with God. There is no other way to God. But that is a good thing. The simplicity of Jesus enduring the cross as the Lamb of God means that unlike most manmade religions, the work is done. There is no possible way to earn your way into God’s grace. Accept the free gift of salvation and enjoy the victory Jesus Christ won for you!

Another important truth in this story is how the shepherd entered the sheepfold. Jesus was born of a virgin through the work of the Holy Spirit. He legally entered the world. Satan, who snuck into the world through the sin of Adam and Eve, is the thief and robber described by Jesus. To drive home this point, Jesus utters one of the most important statements in the Bible.

The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came to give you life in all its abundance. (John 10:10 My paraphrase)

People attribute all sorts of sickness and calamity to God. But John 10:10 should settle that forever in your heart. God is GOOD. Satan is BAD. Jesus says that if you have seen him, you have seen the Father. Study the life of Jesus in the Gospels. He never made anybody sick. He healed them and made them whole. He never hurt anyone and always provided abundant provision (wine, bread, fish, money) when needed. Whenever there was a funeral and Jesus stopped by, it ended abruptly in joy for the life restored. He never condemned, rejected, or otherwise acted out of love towards any sinner. Even on the cross, He forgave those that had treated Him so cruelly. And the only people He ever spoke harshly to were the religious leaders who were hypocrites, pushing people away from God. God is love. And if Love is a shepherd, he would be a very GOOD Shepherd. (John 10:14-21)

Most religious books tell you what the Bible says. This Bible journal is designed to open your ears so you may hear God’s voice directly. As the Word records, His sheep hear His voice. Believe this as you start your study.

The journal comes with 60 pages divided into 8 weeks with weekly themes – Eternal Word, God’s Plan, New Creation, Life Plan, Wisdom, Fear Not, The Blessing, and Love.

My Sheep Hear Me Journal

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:14-16 NLT)

Jesus is Lord and Savior, but He is so much more. He is a GOOD SHEPHERD. And if you were to examine the flock of a Good Shepherd, you would expect his sheep to be healthy, well-fed, happy, and full of Life! But there’s more! Jesus promises that His sheep HEAR HIS VOICE. Jesus is your wisdom, your friend, and along with the Holy Spirit, always there. Practice his presence, and you too will Hear His Voice. (John 10:1-30, Romans 8:1-18, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, 2:1-16, Ephesians 5:1-2)

Sheep And Shepherds: If You Had 99 Sheep And 1 Was Lost, Wouldn’t You Leave The Rest And Search For The Lost One?

Sinners flocked to Jesus because he taught of a loving and forgiving God. The religious leaders at the time taught condemnation, and even avoided being around someone they thought might be unworthy according to their standards. It was in this environment that Jesus gave the parable of the lost sheep.

Jesus said that a shepherd would leave his 99 sheep and hunt desperately for the one that had wandered off into the wilderness. And when he found the lost sheep, he would gather his neighbors and celebrate recovering the lost lamb. In the same way, all of Heaven rejoices when one sinner returns to God. (Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:1-7)

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray and gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost? 
13 And if it should be that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost. 14 Just so it is not the will of My Father Who is in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost and perish. (Matthew 18:12-14 AMP)

Those are comforting words to someone who is lost or cut off from God. When you face oppression, depression, sickness, loneliness, or simply believe that you are heading in the wrong direction, turn back to God. He will be waiting with open arms to receive you and get your life heading in the right direction. He loves you so much that He will respect your choice to reject him and spend eternity separated from His love. But it is God’s perfect will for you to spend eternity with Him, and enjoy this present life in fellowship with Him and under His care and protection.

Sheep And Shepherds – Selected Biblical References

Some Other Sheep And Shepherds Suggestions

Bible Verses About Sheep – Comprehensive list of applicable verses

Bible Verses About Shepherds – Comprehensive list of applicable verses

Sheep In The Bible – Additional notes and commentary on sheep and shepherds in the Bible

Duarte, The Good Shepherd – A Christian children’s story about a llama trying to make friends with the sheep that live with him on the farm.

David Versus Goliath Bible Story – 1 Samuel 17 – Learn how a young shepherd defeated a giant.

How Did David Kill Goliath? – A look at how a shepherd was able to defeat the giant Goliath.

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Images courtesy of:

Ewe and Lamb Image: Ben Schonewille / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sheep In Love Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Psalm 23 Illustration: Nancy Cunningham / Rachael Coate / Basic Training Bible Ministries.

Shepherds Image: www.LumoProject.com