JOYFUL SHEEP

Make a joyful^H7321 noise to the LORD, Serve the LORD with gladness;⁸⁰⁵⁷ come into His

presence with joyful^H7445 songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we

are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the LORD is good, and

His loving devotion endures forever; His faithfulness continues to all generations.

Psalm 100:1-5

The Bible compares God’s people to sheep in many places. We found a good article that delineates exactly how people are like sheep here: https://momremade.com/god-compares-us-to-sheep/

The importance of the psalmist’s reference to sheep in Psalm 100 is that we are the Lord’s sheep and belong in His pasture.

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 34:31 ‘You are My flock, the sheep of My pasture, My people, and I am your God,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

1 Peter 2:25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Why are the Lord’s sheep joyful? He is both provider and protector of the sheep. We have all that we need, and our thirst for righteousness is quenched by His Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6). He guards our lives like the shepherd who literally lies down as the door to the sheep fold. When we listen for our Shepherd’s voice we are guided in the right way. Left to our own devices, we stray away from the path, get hurt, or fall down. But our Good Shepherd pursues us when we wander from the safety of the fold. We are joyful sheep when we entrust our welfare to the One who created us, called us, redeemed us, and is making us more and more like Himself.

Matthew 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Have you become a disgruntled sheep? Sheep are most secure in the presence of the Shepherd. Are you listening for the voice of Jesus? Sheep are happiest when they are with the flock. Are you making time to fellowship with other sheep (Christ-followers)? If a sheep falls on its back, it cannot get up without help. Are you struggling to get back on your feet instead of asking the Good Shepherd to help you? Stay in the flock. Stay close to the Shepherd. Seek the help of God and His people when you need it. Return to the joy of being a sheep belonging to the Good Shepherd.

Father, help us to remember to listen for and follow the voice of our own Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Help us to flock together with His other sheep to help each other stay safe. Help us to feed on Your word as nourishment for our souls. Help us to be joyful!

Dennis Jernigan wrote “I Am a Sheep” as a lullaby for his children, but it is a good reminder for adults as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEvhGuxOGg0