Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11. NKJV)

Oh!
“Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey”(1)

But I’d rather they didn’t - eat ivy, that is. I think that they would do much better on their provided rations of hay and grain. One of the responsibilities of a herder is to provide nourishing food and water for the livestock.
Given the need, any vegetation is fair game, even ivy. Sheep are grazers, mostly looking down for their diet of grasses. They are noted for eating plants right down to the roots, a source of friction between cattlemen and shepherds on the range.
Sheep literally eat on the run, quickly grabbing, chewing and swallowing their food, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again. As with other ruminants, the front teeth in the lower jaw bite against a hard, toothless pad in the upper jaw. These are used to pick off vegetation, then the rear teeth grind it before it is swallowed. There are eight lower front teeth in ruminants. The cloven-hoofed, cud chewing animals meet the Mosaic dietary laws of Deuteronomy 14:4-6.
It is important to see that the mothers are getting a nutritious diet during the time when they are nursing lambs. The good shepherd knows the sheep, (John 10:14) cares for the sheep, (as in the 23rd Psalm) leading them to green pastures and clean water, and is considerate of their needs. (See Genesis 33:13)
As livestock, sheep are most-often associated with pastoral imagery. Sheep figure in many religions, especially the Abrahamic traditions. Being a key animal in the history of farming, sheep have a deeply entrenched place in human culture, and find representation in the language and symbology of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.
The patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - were herders. Job possessed thousands of sheep and camels, and hundreds of oxen and donkeys.
Yet, sheep and shepherds were not always welcome. Pharaoh’s clean-shaven court looked down on the rugged shepherd sons of Jacob. Joseph matter-of-factly informed his brothers, “Every shepherd is detestable to the Egyptians” (Genesis 46:34).
Jacob’s descendants became accustomed to a settled lifestyle and forgot their nomadic roots after spending 400 years in Egypt. When Israel later settled in Canaan, the few tribes still retaining a fondness for pastoral life chose to live in the Trans-Jordan (Numbers 32:1 ff).
After the settling in Palestine, shepherding ceased to hold its prominent position. As the Israelites acquired more farmland, pasturing decreased. Shepherding became a menial vocation for the laboring class. Shepherds were despised in everyday life. In general, they were considered second-class and untrustworthy.
However, Isaiah prophesied,“The Lord God shall come like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” (Isaiah 40:11) The good tidings of great joy at Jesus’ birth were announced to shepherds, “living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.” (Luke 2:8-20) Jesus Himself stated that He is the good shepherd; “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
John the Baptist called Jesus “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Sinners are redeemed “with precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19)
Jesus said, “I am the door to the sheepfold; if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

(1) Sing "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy."
1943 by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston.

A kiddley divey too . . .
Although sheep and goats are related, their dietary preferences are somewhat different, if they can choose.
Goats are primarily browsers, like deer, and strip the leaves and bark off trees and woody plants, sometimes standing on their hind legs to reach as high as they can.

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9, NIV

My wife and I have been immersed in the depths of shepherding the past few weeks. Our flock more than doubled in number, thanks to motherhood. Singles, twins, even triplets have been arriving at various hours of the day and night. We, the shepherds, have to go to them to see that all is going well. Being animals, the ewes do not come knocking at our door, seeking assistance. For the most part, the new mother knows what to do, and settles into the task of protecting and nourishing the lambs she is suddenly responsible for. The lambs, for their part, quickly turn to their mother, creating a bond that is quite strong and enduring.
I took time to watch one sunny afternoon recently as a ewe delivered her first lamb, cleaned it up, coaxed it to its feet, delivered a sibling, and soon moved off as a trio. No help needed!
Not so a first-timer a few nights later. It became obvious that delivery wasn’t going well, after I had spent an hour observing her progress. Finally, at 1:00 AM, I decided she needed some assistance, and had to pull a 17 pound ram lamb. The mamma promptly got up, and ran off! It took a while to finally coax her back to her baby, but she eventually settled into the motherly routine. Thankfully, they are getting along well now.
Still, we routinely check mammas and babes, rejoice at full tummies, and assist those that show signs of distress. We try to be good shepherds to our flock. We know they are very limited in their ability to let us know how they feel, or what they need.
Such a responsibility - the experience of watching over our sheep - brings a renewed awareness of the devotion of The Good Shepherd to our human needs. In Luke 11:11-13, Jesus talks about giving gifts to our children, and compares our limited ability to that of God, who much more gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
How blessed indeed are those mothers who both give good gifts to their children, and know how to ask God for those things that are on the heavenly level.
Paul writes of the faith which first lived in Lois, then in her daughter, Eunice, and finally in Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5). We are not told more, but certainly these were praying mothers, knocking on God’s door for insight in the tumultuous times in which they lived.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, concedes to be the Lord’s servant (Luke 1:38.) Yes, blessed be the mother who can sing, as Mary sang, “My soul praises the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 146-47)
May 11, 2003

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: John the Baptiser said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29, NIV

I have a word for you to think about - Juxtaposition - the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side. I see nothing in the definition that compels me to so place similar ideas, and I think extreme contrasts can often illustrate a concept that is otherwise difficult to comprehend.
I have my Bible open on the desk beside me as I write, and a television playing in the background. I read from Daniel, 11:40; “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships.”
You may presume correctly what is showing on the television.
No, this current conflict is not what Daniel was prophesying about. Nor am I implying in any way that we are seeing a fulfillment of scripture through the war in Iraq. Rather, this is just a juxtaposition of two things. There is a relationship, however, that I find to be most interesting.
Daniel was a captive of Nebuchadnezzer, king of Babylon, the famous city noted for the hanging gardens. The city various prophets described as arrogant, oppressive, cruel and destructive. The city on the Euphrates River! Yes, 2,500 years ago, Babylon; today, Iraq.
Ironic, perhaps, that human nature doesn’t change much. Daniel spoke about a time when the king saw the handwriting on the wall, and his kingdom fell - to Persia; to what is modern day Iran. Later, Alexander and the Macedonians (Greeks) conquered the entire region, from India in the east to Egypt and Ethiopia in Africa. Alexander died at the age of thirty-three, and four of his generals fought over the territory. The Southern kingdom, Including Egypt, fought the Northern kingdom, based in Syria, among other battles. And guess what country was caught in the middle - even after the Romans took on them all? Palestine. Israel. So what has changed?
Ideas placed side by side, to be sure. But here is the greatest juxtaposition of all: Before I sat down to write this article, I assisted in the birth of a lamb in our barn. The first lamb of the season, on the second day of spring. Life anew!
I brought in two more hen’s eggs which will be placed in an incubator. When we collect enough, we will turn it on. In twenty-one days, there should be new life there, God willing!
All too often, man destroys. And God creates.
God gave His Son, called the “Lamb of God” that we might have life anew. It was in the taking of life that we gained eternal life.
Juxtapositions!
March 23, 2003