When David was a shepherd – a rock enclosure, like the wall above, with only ONE WAY IN, would have been built to keep the sheep safe at night.
Why?
Sheep are defenseless animals – they are slow moving, have poor eyesight, do not hear well, and have absolutely zero defense mechanisms (no camouflage, no claws, no sharp hooves or powerful jaws.)
One way in – defenseless sheep – how would they be protected?
The shepherd would sleep in front of the open gate. This way he was able to keep the sheep in and the wild beasts out.
What a Picture of Jesus
Jesus laid down His life for His sheep. (John 10:11-14 — The Message – ““I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary.”)
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53-6).
Jesus did sacrifice Himself for His sheep. He died so you and I would no longer be under the death penalty for our sins – the obvious ones like murder, adultery, and theft, as well as for the secret sins of selfishness and pride.
JESUS Saves – So We Can Have a Rich and Satisfying Life
9 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows] (John 10:9-10 Amplified.)
“The Lord is my (our) shepherd” – and each one of us who submits to Christ as our Shepherd will be protected and provided for.
Just as the shepherd would lay down his life to protect his sheep from the wild beasts — Jesus did lay down His life so we could have a rich and satisfying life.
What will you do this week to enjoy the abundant life Jesus provides for us?
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