"Of Sheep and Shepherds"

There is a reason that the Scriptures use sheep as a metaphor for humanity. There is a beauty to sheep, but also a frailty and disgusting nature. in Isaiah 53 it says “ all we like sheep have gone astray. we have turned aside every one of us.” Sheep by their very nature are followers. Where the shepherd goes they go. Where the shepherd leads they follow. Sheep are defined by their shepherd and so it shouldn’t be surprising that scripture uses shepherds as a metaphor for leaders. This morning I want to take a look at a passage from Jeremiah that gets to the heart of us sheep. I want us to see the nature of sheep, the need for a shepherd and finally I want us to be reminded of the good shepherd who lays his life down for the sheep.