Scripture: Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, Proverbs 27:23 (NLT)
Observation: State of thy flocks. Verses 23–27 are an ode in praise of pastoral and agricultural living. The “state” is literally the “face,” “look,” or “appearance.” A parallel to the work of pastors, church elders, parents, and youth leaders is naturally observed (see 1 Peter 5:2–4). [The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 3. 1977 (F. D. Nichol, Ed.) (1041). Review and Herald Publishing Association.]
Application: Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. The duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact and protect it from wolves and other predators.
Two characteristics of the shepherd caught my attention. First of all, the work of the shepherd was to protect the sheep by anointing them with the horn of anointing oil, so that the flies may not enter the sheep’s brain through it’s ears. There are flies that feed on the brains of the sheep, and when they enter into the sheep’s brain through it’s ears, they start to eat up it’s brain, and because of the severe headache pains the sheep starts to run around looking for hard rocks, so that it may hit it’s head on the rocks to stop the pain. As the sheep is violently hitting it’s head upon the rocks, the scull that protects the brain of the sheep breaks. When the shepherd anointed his sheep with oil, the oil stopped the flies from accomplishing their desire because they would slide off the sheep’s head, because of the anointing oil.
As fathers, we must anoint our children with the oil of the Holy Spirit so that He will protect their minds from all the things the devil is trying to put in them, things that ultimately will destroy them.
The second aspect of the shepherd responsibility is that they would normally work in groups either looking after one large flock, or each bringing their own and merging their responsibilities. As parents, we first must work together. When we are divided in our decisions, in the discipline of the children, in the rules we have at home, in our spiritual principles and values, the children are confused and disoriented in their life. As fathers, we need to be an example for our boys and should team up with other fathers to provide our boys with the example, pattern, and model of manhood they can follow. As mothers, join other mothers to teach, lead, and live in such a way that the daughters will learn from their adult shepherdesses to follow their feminine pattern and cultivate their own mothering instincts which they will one day use with their own children.
Our text for today also tells us that a good shepherd knows the state or the condition of his flock. In order to know that, we need to spend time with our children, helping them with their school work, going to their school activities, getting to know their friends, eating family meals together, watching what they’re watching and reading what they are reading. In other words ,developing a close relationship with them so that they will feel free and comfortable to share with you about their life and whereabouts and so they will not have secrets which could prove harmful if unchecked.
Shepherding our children is not simply driving them with a stick to where you want them to go; it means leading them, lovingly, to where you want them to follow. It is protecting them from negative influences. It is shielding them from evil. It is rescuing them when they have fallen. It is leading them back home when they have wandered away. Let’s be good shepherds of our flock.
A Prayer You May Say: Father God, help us to be faithful shepherds to the flock you have entrusted to our care. Help us to protect them, and bless them with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
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