The twenty-third Psalm, familiar to all of us, offers a wonderful image. David writes out of his own knowledge as a shepherd. One line of the Psalm is "He restores my soul." From time to time a shepherd is required to restore his sheep--for sheep have a tendency to get "cast down."
Phillip Keller, in his book A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT PSALM 23, describes what happens when a sheep is cast down. It finds itself on its back, all four legs straight up in the air, and unable to get back up. The attentive shepherd will set it back on its feet, massaging life back into its limbs. The shepherd restores the sheep.
What causes the sheep to become cast down in the first place? Sometimes it's because it wanders off into soft spots. But most often it's simply a result of having too much wool! The sheep's fleece becomes very long, heavily matted with mud and burrs and other debris so that it is weighed down with its own wool, rendered totally helpless and useless.
Wool in the Scripture is an interesting symbol. No high priest was ever allowed to wear wool when he entered the Holy of Holies. It spoke of self, of pride, of personal preference and the priest believed these things would bog him down.
Sheep do not particularly enjoy being sheared, but it must be done and when it is over, there is a great relief. There is no longer the threat of being cast down and there is pleasure in being set free from the hot, heavy coat. Set free to follow the shepherd once again.
May we shed our wool so that we can follow our shepherd.
Dear God, unburden me so that I may follow my shepherd with great dedication. In Jesus name, Amen.
Ron Newhouse
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