Respected brother in Christ, brother please tell me, y God compeer this people to sheep always, and he his shepherded, even in old Testament, in psalm 100.1-5 and in new testament, in john 10.1 = following, why god compeer, with sheep, there is lots for good animals is there, why God? what are the goods things in sheep
There are a number of reasons that sheep appear so prominently in the Bible. First, sheep were a primary part of the livestock owned by the people to whom the Bible was originally written. “Sheep were an important part of the possessions of the ancient Hebrews and of Eastern nations generally” (Unger’s). Sheep “[a]bounded in the pastures of Palestine” (Fausset’s). “Sheep are mentioned more frequently than any other animal in the Bible-about 750 times. This is only natural since the Hebrew people were known early in their history as a race of wandering herdsmen” (Nelson’s). Consequently, the people to whom the Bible was originally penned could immediately identify with the illustration used in various teachings throughout both testaments of the Bible. Second, sheep were an important product, providing food and clothes. “This well known domestic animal has, from the earliest period, contributed to the wants of mankind” (McClintock and Strong).
Third, some of the characteristics of sheep can illustrate both dependence on God and virtues that Christians should adopt for themselves.
By nature, sheep are helpless creatures. They depend on shepherds to lead them to water and pasture, to fight off wild beasts, and to anoint their faces with oil when a snake nips them from the grass. Sheep are social animals that gather in flocks, but they tend to wander off and fall into a crevice or get caught in a thorn bush. Then the shepherd must leave the rest of his flock to search for the stray. (Nelson’s)
The nature of sheep and their relation to man have given rise to many beautiful figures. Jehovah was the Shepherd of Israel, and they were His flock (Ps 23:1; 74:1; 78:52; 79:13; 80:1; Isa 40:11; Jer 23:1-2; etc.). The apostasy of sinners from God is likened to the straying of a lost sheep (Ps 119:176; Isa 53:6; Jer 50:6). Jesus came to earth as the Good Shepherd (Luke 15:4-6; John 10:8-11). As the sheep is an emblem of meekness, patience, and submission, it is expressly mentioned as typifying these qualities in the Person of our blessed Lord (Isa 53:7; Acts 8:32; etc.). (Unger’s)
Fourth, “[s]heep were the most important sacrificial animals” (International). “In Scripture three kinds of four-footed beasts–oxen, sheep, and goats; and two of birds–turtle-doves and young pigeons–are appointed for sacrifices” (Temple).
From the foregoing considerations, we can see that it is quite appropriate that God caused sheep to appear in the Bible numerous times. There are many different animals mentioned in the Bible (Cook records information about 33 animals), but sheep were a vital part of the lives of Bible people and an especially useful creature to illustrate divine revelation to the same people. Furthermore, whereas some animals are not known worldwide, most of the world is familiar enough with sheep to grasp biblical lessons drawn from them.
Works Cited
Cook, Harriet N. Scripture Alphabet of Animals. CD-ROM. New York: American Tract Society, 1842.
Edersheim, Alfred. Temple – Its Ministry and Services. CD-ROM. Austin: Wordsearch, 2004.
Fausset’s Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1998.
International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 1996.
McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2000.
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Nashville: Nelson, 1986.
New Unger’s Bible Dictionary. CD-ROM. Chicago: Moody, 1988.
