WHILE the shepherdess sits upon the rock, the sheep lie about near her, resting and digesting the food they have obtained from the nice green pasture. They look so contented and comfortable.
One often sees such scenes in Scotland. In this country the sheep are generally in a pasture with a fence around it and do not need to have a shepherd with them all the time.
Have you ever seen sheep? Do you know what gentle, quiet creatures they are? You would enjoy a pretty little lamb for a pet if you could have one.
Did you ever read about sheep in God’s word: Here is one verse that tells what the shepherd says: “I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11).
And here are other verses telling what the sheep says: “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.” Some of you can repeat all of this beautiful twenty-third Psalm.
The shepherd here is Jesus, and the sheep for whom this Good Shepherd died arc those who believe in Him.
Are you one of these sheep? Can you say “The Lord is my Shepherd”?
What are the green pastures in which He makes us to lie down? What are pastures to the sheep in the picture? “Their food” you say. Just so, the pastures Jesus makes us to lie down in are food to us. But His pastures are not fields of green grass such as the sheep in the picture feed upon. No, dear children, the word of God is the pasture in which we find our food. And it is very precious food. The more we feed upon it the more we enjoy it.
Just as the sheep eat some and then rest and digest it, so our Shepherd wants us to read some in His word, then think about it—digest it. Then when we are ready for another meal we can read some more. But we must not forget that we need these meals every day.
ML 01/14/1912