I. Introduction
A. Are Sheep Dumb?
1. There has long been a belief that sheep are dumb animals. More recent research has revealed that sheep are more intelligent than we ever thought.
a. The have an impressive ability to recognize faces and remember around 50 individuals for years.
b. They have been known to self-medicate when sick by seeking out plants that have the ability to make them feel better.
c. They have also demonstrated that they have good learning and memory skills.
d. They form complex social groups.
2. Sheep aren’t dumb—they are dependent.
B. Sheep in Scripture
1. In Scripture, we find God’s people referred to as sheep on several occasions.
2. OT-
a. Numbers 27:17 (God instructs Moses to commission Joshua to be his successor)
b. Zechariah 10-13
c. Ezekiel 34
d. Many of the leaders God chose were shepherds (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David)
3. NT
a. Matthew 9:36 …He had compassion on them…like sheep without a shepherd.
b. Matthew 10:6 …lost sheep of the house of Israel
c. Matthew 25:33 …sheep on his right, but the goats on the left…
d. Luke 15 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
e. John 10–The sheep and shepherd metaphor is used throughout. Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd.
f. John 21:16,17 …tend my sheep…feed my sheep.
g. Acts 20:28,29 The Ephesian elders were told to watch over the flock.
h. Hebrews 13:20 …Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep…
i. 1 Peter 2:25
j. Peter tells the elders to shepherd the flock that is among them and to be examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2,3)
4. What is notable about this depiction is that it most often involves the care God offers to His people. Such is the case in our passage tonight.
C. Ezekiel 34
1. In Ezekiel 34, God is chastising the bad shepherds of Israel.
2. He accuses them of not feeding or leading the children of Israel as they should.
3. The answer is that God Himself will be the people’s shepherd.
4. In John 10, Jesus reveals that He is God’s fulfillment of what God promised in Ezekiel 34.
5. As we examine our passage tonight, we’ll learn what God does for His sheep and then how we should respond to it.
II. The Sheep of His Pasture–God is Our Shepherd
A.
1. God wants to lead us in the ways that us the most as His creation. (34:13)
a. “I myself will be their shepherd…” (v15)
b. David reflects on God as our shepherd in Psalm 23:1-3
i. He makes me…
ii. He leads me…
iii. He restores me…
2. As His sheep, we should trust the He leads us on.
a. John 10:4,5
b. Even through the valley of the shadow of death (Ps 23:4).
c. Even when there is a reason to fear evil (Ps 23:4).
d. 1 Peter 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
3. As sheep, we can depend on Jesus to lead us .
B.
1. God provides the best for His people.
a. …I will feed them on the mountains… (v 13)
b. …I will feed them with good pasture… (v 14)
c. Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
d. John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
2. As sheep, we should trust that what He provides for spiritual nourishment is what we need.
C. Fulfills Our Greatest
1. As our shepherd, God addresses all our needs, but especially our need for .
a. Ezekiel depicts God as seeking and rescuing His people.
b. He is seeking the sheep because they have been scattered. (v 12)
c. God seeks to rescue the scattered sheep from a cloudy and dark day. (v 12)
2. Spiritual Redemption
a. In Ezekiel 34:16, God speaks of needs that sheep often have as a metaphor for the spiritual needs of His people.
i. Seek the lost…
ii. Bring back the strayed…
iii. Bind up the injured…
iv. Strengthen the weak (v 16)
b. While many reading Ezekiel would see it as the restoration of Israel, we understand that He was speaking of the Good Shepherd.
3. The Good Shepherd
a. Seeks the and brings back the strays (Matthew 15:24; Luke 19:10)
b. He seeks to heal the spiritually (Matthew 9:12)
c. He strengthens the (2 Cor 12:9)
d. The good shepherd laid down His for the sheep. (John 10:11-17, 27-28)
e. Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd; He is also the Lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7)
f. The lamb was a substitute until THE Lamb of God could be sacrificed.
g. In Revelation 5:9, the slain lamb is depicted as being the only one worthy of opening the scroll.
4. As God’s sheep, we should find our in Him.
III. Conclusion
A. God’s Flock
1. The imagery of being God’s sheep is meant to be one that reminds us who God is, but also how dear each of us is to Him.
2. We are valuable to Him.
3. We are dependent on Him—that’s not a bad thing.
B. Invitation
1. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but we must choose to be led by the Good Shepherd.
2. Sheep are not dumb—they are dependent. Do we depend on God like we should?