Sheep and goats at times have been thought to be very similar, but they are separated by 6 chromosome and fall under different genera in their respective subfamily. I found it interesting to read that the off spring a hybrid is always infertile when a goat and sheep rarely mate or are still born at delivery. Now you may be reading this “Word of the Week” entry and maybe thinking, “Yeah, he really has too much time on his hands”, please read on to see where the Sheppard is going to take us today for a drink of water.
In reading the book of Psalms verse 23, the faith of a sheep being lead by his Sheppard (who is Jesus Christ) is illustrated by David as he speaks of the Lord in this Psalm as it reads….
The LORD Is My Shepherd
23The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green [1] pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest [2] my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. [3]
Sheep have blind faith and know the voice of their Sheppard as they are willing to trust the Sheppard to direct them away from harm, into shelter or a place rest. As sheep we are willing to be lead by our Sheppard knowing that he will take us to a place of rest or will be a rod of protection when the enemy comes. Now, I know your thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I get it, who are the goats and how does that equate to scripture?”
In the Matthew 25 verses 32 – 46, Jesus warns us about will happen to the goats, as they will be divided apart from the sheep.
32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Sheep or Goat God will, decide…. When I read this, chapter immediately I thought why did Jesus warn us not to be as goats? What the goat represents in its traits is singleness and not the love and faith that the sheep possess. Let’s all become like sheep, and follow the Sheppard.********************************Alter Call**************************
Romans: 10:9-10 Who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior please pray this prayer with me. God, I recognize that I have not lived my life for you up until now. I have been living for myself and this is wrong. I need you Lord in my life. I acknowledge the complete work of your Son Jesus Christ in giving his life for me on the cross at Calvary. Come into my life Jesus and reside in my heart! I claim you as my Lord, and Savior from this day forward. I will no longer be controlled by sin, or the desire to please myself, but I will follow you, forever! This I ask in your precious name Jesus. Amen.
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