Are you feeling paralyzed by the complexities of life? If so, there is good news for you as a sheep. All you really need to focus on is better hearing and recognizing the voice of the Shepherd and following Him.

This is the technical definition of a “sheep”:

The common name for many species of wild and domesticated ruminant mammals of the genus Ovis of the cattle family. The male is called a ram, the female is called an ewe, and their offspring is a lamb. Sheep are bred for their wool, meat, skins, and milk. They are found in temperate climates and thrive on roughages.

Now that’s a pretty technical definition, but it should have a particular relevance to us because of the biblical importance of the metaphor of the sheep. Out of all the animals in the world, the Lord chose this one to describe us. It is a familiar metaphor for anyone who has read much of the Bible. It is the dominating image of the most famous of the Psalms. In Psalm 23 David describes himself as one of God’s sheep and goes through the means by which the shepherd leads him. Throughout Isaiah and Jeremiah God is described as a shepherd, one that lovingly carries his sheep. And in Ezekiel 34, the Lord is angry because the shepherds he entrusted to his flock have done a bad job in leading them. He is the shepherd, we are his sheep.

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