A Day in 'The Holy City'

Shepherd near Jericho

It has been a while since I last posted! Things have sped up some with classes and field studies. We also have a short term group on campus now, and that changes up the schedule a bit. This past Sunday we had a field trip to Maresha and several other Israelite settlements in the Shephela, perhaps I can write about it at some latter point. For now, I want to write about an observation I've made, which has been meaningful to me.

Wilderness of Judah, probably as green as it gets!

I have enjoyed watching the shepherds here. There are people here who still make their living by being a shepherd, and it's not uncommon to see them out in the fields with their flocks. We saw many sheep out in the low hill-country of the Shephelah on Sunday, but even when we were farther east, closer to the dead sea in the Wilderness where there is no agriculture and no settlements besides Bedouins, there were shepherds.
Ever since I can remember, one of the songs my Mom would sing me is
"I am Jesus' little lamb, ever glad at heart I am, for my shepherd gently guides me, knows my need and well supplies me, loves me every day the same, even knows me by my name."

Sheep on Ahab's wall

And once, when I was particularly sad about something or other, Mom gave me a little stuffed animal lamb she had, to remind me that I am Jesus' little Lamb.
I really love the imagery of Jesus as the good shepherd, and I have really enjoyed seeing the shepherds here who tend their flocks much in the same way as shepherds in the Bible. Although I knew the verses John 10:1-16, in which Jesus also says "when he (the shepherd) has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice (vs.4)." This concept struck me differently when I see how the shepherds here lead their flock.
It's not uncommon to see the shepherd sitting down and watching over his flock as they spread across the hills to graze, but when the shepherd wants to move the flock, he doesn't herd them, he really does lead them! It looked very strange to me at first, the shepherd walks ahead and the sheep just follow him! I'm sure there are instances when the Shepherd needs to gather the flock or herd them back together, but from what I've seen, the sheep really must know their shepherd's voice, and follow after him.

Sheep on Ahab's wall

At Samaria, we were looking at the remains of Ahab's palace, when several sheep began wandering across the walls. soon, their shepherd showed up, and sat on the wall and watched as his sheep wandered the ruins, grazing.
In light of this, the imagery of Jesus(God) as our shepherd, and us as the flock, became more meaningful. Shepherds are watchful, but they allow their sheep to wander as they graze. However, when they call, the sheep turn and follow. and if not the sheep is in trouble, because it's the shepherd who knows where is good to graze, and where is not. As the Sheep of the Good Shepherd, we ought to take comfort knowing he watches over us, and to be sure to follow when he calls.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside still waters
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake,

A flock of over 100 sheep, as their shepherd
 walked ahead up the valley, they all followed.
(shepherd is slightly out of this picture, to the left.)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shaddow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
Thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.