Blog

Children's Christian Books · Christian Parenting · Faith for families · Good Shepherd · Jesus · Psalm 23 · Sheep ·

Tell Me What You Know About Sheep

Artwork of Iam the Lamb in the Psalm 23 book

This is one of the beautiful pieces of artwork by Jamie that will appear in our upcoming book, Iam The Lamb and the Good Shepherd: A Psalm 23 Book.

I’ll admit it, I’m an Audible addict. I listen to books every chance I get. Driving, doing dishes, folding laundry, exercising — everything feels lighter with a good story in my ears. There’s something soothing about letting my mind go on autopilot while being drawn into another world. Honestly, I don’t even mind being stuck in traffic if I’m caught up in a great book.

On our recent road trips, my husband and I got completely lost (in the best way) in Charles Martin’s Keeper series — The Water Keeper, The Letter Keeper, The Record Keeper, and The Keeper. Forty-three hours and forty-seven minutes of edge-of-your-seat, laughter-inducing, tear-jerking, thought-provoking storytelling!

Throughout the series, one line echoes again and again:
 “Tell me what you know about sheep.”

It’s such a simple question — yet it carries incredible depth. It made me pause and think about what the Bible says about sheep and the Good Shepherd.

Here are a few facts about sheep that Martin mentions, and some I’ve learned myself (we once had two pet sheep named Tori and Carly!):

  • They are prone to wander.

  • They get lost easily.

  • They are easy prey because they have no natural defenses — no claws, sharp teeth, or speed to escape predators.

  • They can seldom find their way home.

  • They must be led to food and water because they cannot find clean water or good pasture on their own.

  • They struggle to see clearly beyond a few yards in front of them.

  • They can be easily startled by shadows or moving water.

  • They are instinctively social and will follow the flock, even if it leads them into danger.

  • They need a shepherd.

Studies show sheep can recognize individual faces and voices. They won’t follow a stranger, but they respond immediately to their shepherd’s call, a beautiful reflection of what Jesus said in John 10:27,

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

How We Are Like Sheep

When we look closely, it’s not hard to see ourselves in these same patterns.

Like sheep, we are prone to wander, chasing distractions, following the world’s lead, and drifting from the safety of God’s presence.

We, too, get lost, become fearful, and struggle to see the bigger picture.

Without the guidance of the Good Shepherd, we fall prey to the enemy’s tactics, exhaustion, and confusion.

But when we listen to Jesus’ voice, the voice of our Shepherd, He leads us back to peace, purpose, and home.

The Comfort of Psalm 23

Psalm 23 paints the most tender picture of this relationship:

“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.”

Just as sheep depend on their shepherd for protection, nourishment, and rest, we depend on Jesus, the Good Shepherd, for everything our souls need

He knows each of us by name, leads us to still waters, and restores our weary hearts when life feels heavy.

We are never meant to navigate life alone. The One who made us walks before us, guards behind us, and calls us by name.

So the next time you feel lost, anxious, or uncertain of the path ahead, remember this:
You are one of His sheep.
You have a Shepherd who never stops watching over you, guiding you, and leading you home.

Stephanie Karr

 

 

Back to Words from the Heart

You may also like View all

Lamb and Shepherd in One (A Reflection on John 1:29 and John 10:11)
Lamb and Shepherd in One (A Reflection on John 1:29 and John 10:11)

When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching the Jordan River, he made a declarationthat captures the whole mission of Christ in a single sentence: “Behold, the Lamb ofGod who takes away the sin of the world!” — John 1:29 Some translations say “Behold…” others say “Look…” but the meaning is the same.John the Baptist, whose purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah, identifiedJesus not first as King, Lord, or Teacher, but as a Lamb. Why Did John Call Jesus a Lamb? In Scripture, a lamb symbolizes innocence, purity,and sacrificial offering. From the Passover lamb in Exodus to the lambs offered daily inthe temple, the image consistently pointed to substitution: one life given so anothercould live. By calling Jesus “the Lamb of God,” John was saying: Jesus is God’s chosensacrifice; provided by God Himself, not by human priests; Jesus came to remove sin,not just cover it temporarily; and Jesus’ mission from the start was sacrificial, aimed attaking away “the sin of the world.” This was not poetic language. It was theological truth: Jesus came to die as the perfectoffering for humanity. But, John 10:11 offers an amazingly divine contrast. In anothermoment, Jesus described Himself in a completely different way: “I am the goodshepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” — John 10:11Here, Jesus is not the lamb. Here, He is the shepherd. A shepherd who protects,guides, and willingly gives His life on behalf of His flock. This creates a profound andbeautiful paradox: Jesus is both the Lamb who is sacrificed and the Shepherd whosacrifices Himself. At the cross, Jesus fulfills both identities: 1) As the Lamb, He offers Himself as thespotless sacrifice to take away sin; 2) As the Shepherd, He lays down His life out ofdeep love for His sheep. The Shepherd becomes the Lamb so the lambs may becomechildren of God. In Jesus, God reveals a redemption plan beyond human imagination: aLamb who saves, a Shepherd who dies, and a Savior who holds both identitiesperfectly. Only God could unite those two images in one person and design such a perfect storyof love, sacrifice, and salvation, where Jesus is both the Lamb and the Shepherd. By Ted Karr Image:  This is another one of the beautiful pieces of artwork from Jamie that will be in our Psalm 23 book.