Feeding Sheep

Feeding Sheep

A favourite piece of classical music of mine is by J.S. Bach. It is entitled ‘Sheep may safely graze’.  Listening to this wonderful composition reminds me of my early years down south in Dorset, having heard it first at a school speech day.

Before the recent pandemic, my husband and I relocated from the edge of a city to the Yorkshire Dales and have become members of a rural chapel. I realise that I am surrounded now, in every direction, by sheep.

A neighbour of ours is a shepherd who looks after some very unusual looking ewes, tups and lambs, Greyface Dartmoors. I must admit that they look extremely cuddly, appear to smile at you and are friendlier than other breeds, apparently. You can spot them easily for they appear to have taken their coats for a curly-whirly perm at a hairdresser.

I am not up to speed yet on all the ‘ins and outs’ of sheep rearing; however, our local sheep seem to be doing well spending all day safely grazing in fields enclosed by traditional stone walls or up on the fells.

The Bible has a lot to say about sheep and shepherds.

We are like sheep

‘We all, like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay my life down for the sheep.’

John 10:14,15

He can become my ‘shepherd’

‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside still waters,

he restores my soul…

Psalm 23:1-3

The hymn writer, F.H.Rowley long ago, penned these simple words:

‘I was lost but Jesus found me

Found the sheep that went astray

Threw His loving arms around me.

Drew me back into His way.’

When we belong to the Good Shepherd, (in repentance and belief in the great exchange – our sin for His righteousness) then we know for certain that He will lovingly guide us; supply and satisfy all our spiritual needs whatever our circumstances; and He will, one day, take us home to be with Him forever.

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