Why does God Calls His People SHEEP?

Article From: Why does Gold Call Us Sheep?

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Why does He call us SHEEP? (The Bible makes reference to sheep no less than 220 times).  A few of the more notable passages that come to mind are the 23^rd Psalm, Isa. 53:6 and John 10. 

There are many references to His People being sheep. So why not something more powerful, like a ram or horse? Why not something more graceful and valued, like a prized bird? Well, God chose to use the word sheep to identify His followers, as we are "His sheep." Our shepherd, Jesus, is leading the way, so let's look at the facts about sheep-the nature of sheep.

 Let's look at the facts about sheep:

• Sheep aren’t intelligent.

Sheep are not known to be smart or cunning animals when it comes to safety; rather, they are susceptible and tend to wander away from the protection of the shepherd.   Compared to the wisdom of God, all knowing, all loving, human intelligence doesn't compare.  (1 Corinthians 3:19).  People tend to wander away from God, from everything that is right and holy.

• Sheep respond to the shepherd's voice.  

The voice of the shepherd brings comfort and security to the sheep. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

• Sheep are Directionless

Sheep get lost easily.  Individual sheep easily wander away from the flock while they graze. When even one sheep goes astray, the shepherd goes after it and restores it to the flock. As Isaiah 53:6 indicates, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way”. If a sheep wanders off from the rest of the herd, it will have a hard, if not impossible time, finding its way back. They have no sense of direction. So it is with those outside the Lord, there is simply no sense of spiritual direction in their lives. They cannot find their way to the Lord by themselves.

• Sheep are weak and need a shepherd/people are spiritually weak and need THE Shepherd

In a human's unsaved, deprived mind, humans are always weak, foolish and ignorant. That is why they always need the shepherd to care for them. Sheep need someone to protect them. Ever seen a “Beware of Sheep” sign posted on someone’s gate?  Have you ever seen a wide-eyed animal fleeing for its life from a bleating lamb? Never!  Sheep aren’t dangerous they’re virtually defenseless. All they can do is freeze in their tracks, or at best run. Without claws, sharp teeth, speed, or a resounding roar to make predators think twice before pouncing, sheep are easy prey.  They can’t scamper up a tree, camouflage their color, or even swim.  When they sense danger, the poor, timid sheep panic.  Jesus disciples must have shuddered with fear when He told them, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” - (Matt.10:16a).  A sheep’s best defense is to stay close to the shepherd and remain with the herd.  The same is true with us, isn’t it? When we’re out of fellowship with God and isolated from other Christians, we’re most vulnerable.  We need the Shepherd’s wisdom and strength to survive, as well as the comfort and encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

• Sheep become restless.  

There are two major reasons why sheep become restless: hunger and bugs. Hunger: Sheep can graze peacefully for hours, but they become restless when food is scarce. Spiritual hunger occurs when the word of God is lacking. The Bible tells us that the Good Shepherd, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2).  * A well fed sheep will not quickly feed at a stranger's hand, but hungry sheep will eat anything. (Stay full on God’s word).  Bugs: There is in the Middle East a bug that torments sheep by landing and nesting on their heads. If the bug remains undetected by the shepherd, it will multiply and eventually blind the sheep. Shepherds in the Middle East routinely rub olive oil on sheeps' heads to prevent the bug from landing on them, thereby eliminating the problem.   In Scripture, the devil is called Beelzebub (the lord of the flies). In the Spirit realm, therefore, bugs are symbolic of demons. The anointing of the Holy Spirit protects us from being harassed by demons. 

• A Sheep is a Personal, a Prized and a Precious Possession

This sheep belonged to the shepherd, he had paid a personal price to own it and wasn't going to stand idly by while it was lost. (Ill. The price Jesus paid for the sheep - Ill. Calvary - 1 Cor. 6:19-20) - This sheep may have been no different from any other ordinary sheep, but it was special to the shepherd. To him, it was a prized possession.  - To this shepherd, there were no big sheep and little sheep. Every sheep he had was precious in his eyes. So it is with the Lord. He loves all His sheep equally.

• Sheep need plenty of water

In the Bible regions, the shepherds had to get their sheep to water very regularly. As Christians, we need the living water of the Holy Spirit continually. We cannot go without it. John 7:38 says: "He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water;  In dry spells they may not go to get water. They will mob round a tree in a dry paddock or an empty water trough until they die of thirst. They need someone to lead them beside still water. People are often helpless, easily intimidated and will head away from help when it is offered. They need a shepherd to guide them.

• Sheep follow the voice of their own Shepherd (no other shepherd)

The Bible says the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. They are not without understanding! They follow the One whom they know. You may never have a complete understanding of your circumstances with all the answers to the questions of life, but you will understand the love of God and the importance of following the Lord to the green pastures and living water. The shepherd is at the front of the sheep and leads the sheep. The sheep know their shepherd, the sound of his voice and follow him. This is also the way that the sheep are separated into separate herds after grazing or sleeping together. The shepherd calls the sheep and they come. They need no markings to distinguish them - all they need is the sound of the shepherd's voice.

• Sheep cannot get up on their own

If they fall down (“cast down”), they must have a shepherd to lift them up or they will die. 'Cast down' sheep. . . .This is an old English shepherd's term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself. A 'cast' sheep is a very pathetic sight. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up, without success.

• Sheep must be sheared for its own good.

(We don’t like when “bad” things happen to us, but we must trust that it is for our own good). Whenever a shepherd finds that a sheep was cast down because it had too long and heavy a fleece, he soon took swift steps to remedy the situation. In short order he would shear it clean and so forestall the danger of having the ewe lose her life. This was not always a pleasant process. Sheep do not really enjoy being sheared and it represents some hard work for the shepherd, but it must be done. Actually when it is all over both sheep and owner are relieved. There is no longer the threat of being cast down, while for the sheep there is the pleasure of being set free from a hot, heavy coat. Often the fleece is clogged with filthy manure, mud, burrs, sticks and ticks. What a relief to be rid of it all!

• Sheep must be lead to grass/just as the Holy Spirit leads us to what we need/God.

If left to themselves they will graze in the same place until all the grass is gone. A good shepherd leads them to the best places to graze to keep them healthy. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

• Sheep remain dirty until someone cleans them. 

Sheepskin is full of an oil called lanolin.  Lanolin comes through the skin and coats the wool.  It conditions the wool so that the animal will stay warm in cold weather, but the oily wool is one of the most effective dirt-catching devices known to man.  Every time a sheep lies down, grass, dirt, burrs, dust, and everything imaginable clings to its coat.  Sheep are huge walking Velcro strips.