God willing, I will be writing articles on our Good Shepherd and His sheep for the next few months, using Psalm 23 for the foundational truth. Let's begin with His sheep and why He calls us "His sheep." 

The life of sheep depends totally on their shepherd. They are unable by nature to take care of themselves or protect themselves; they can only run in time of danger. Sheep are gentle, feeble, timid, dumb, harmless, and helpless; they won't rest unless they are free from fear. 

The first thing the shepherd does when he buys his sheep is mark them. A mark has to be cut in their ear with a sharp knife to establish ownership. This is painful for the sheep, but the Good Shepherd understands their pain. He had to pay a dear price to buy these sheep, and was marked, Himself, in His hands and feet (Jn. 20:27). 

All these sheep were sheep that had gone astray; sheep that would have died in the wilderness if the Good Shepherd hadn't gone after them (Isa. 53:6). They used to belong to a cruel owner who had a "hired man" to watch over them, but he didn't have any love for the sheep; so when the wolves, bears, or coyotes came, he would just run off and leave them to be torn apart, or killed (Jn. 10:12-13). When the Good Shepherd saw this, He had mercy on these sheep, loved them, and gave all that He had to buy them. The original owner didn't want to give them up at first, and there was a terrible battle, but in the end the Good Shepherd won, and now these sheep are His forever (Gen. 3:15, Jn. 10:28). 

At first though, these sheep didn't want to come to this Good Shepherd; their former owner had great power over them and had blinded them to His goodness (II Cor. 4:4). But the Good Shepherd had all power in heaven and earth; so in the day of His power He made them willing to come to Him (Jn. 5:40, Matt:28:18, Psa. 110:3). Now they are free from all fear; free from all that would harm them (II Tim. 1:7, I Jn. 4:18). Now they can rest (Matt. 11:28). 

Dear reader, have you experienced this change of ownership? Have you been made to realize your bondage to sin, and your blindness to it (Jn. 8:34:36)? If not, call out to the Good Shepherd; let Him know that you want to come home. He is still looking for His stray sheep; you will not have to live in fear anymore.

 Oh Shepherd of Israel, we Your sheep, Your flock, thank You. You have delivered us out of the hands of the evil one; you have broken the bands of our yoke and set us free. We enter most gladly into Your covenant of peace. We are so thankful that, even now, we can dwell safely in this wilderness without fear. We will sleep quietly even in the dark woods (Ezek. 34:23-31). Blessed be Your Name!!!