Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. John 10:7
Read John 10:1-10. Jesus makes another I AM statement. In the first verse, Jesus is warning the crowd that there is only one way to God the Father, and that is through him. How does His tone sound to you? Is it firm, angry, aloof? Whatever his tone is, He is making a point by how he is talking of the thief and the bandit. Let’s dig a little deeper into the sheep and shepherds of this time frame.
In John 10, the setting is a little Jewish village. Most families own sheep. They would come together and hire a shepherd to take care of these sheep. At night time the sheep would be placed in a constructed round stoned – walled enclosure. At the top of this enclosure would be thorns to keep wild animals out. Inside the enclosure, the sheep were safe as long as the entrance was sure by the shepherd. The shepherd would sleep across the door entrance since there was no door.
Read John 10: 3-5. How did the sheep know to follow the shepherd?
Sheep learn to know the shepherd’s voice. We learn God’s voice in the same way.
How do you process scripture that you read? In most circumstances, we interpret scripture through our experiences and culture that we live in. In order to fully understand the meaning of God’s word, we need to understand the middle eastern culture. To understand the context of scripture is to understand the cultural context it was written in. This can help us compare the knowledge of the way we think about things based on our own experiences and culture today. It gives an accurate picture of how a scenario would have played out in biblical times. It also can give us a deeper meaning surrounding particular passages. Hence, shepherding is a great example of this.
Shepherding includes using a herding dog and gates or physical structures as the main methods to confine sheep, in some cultures today. Each culture has a different way of shepherding. Some use panic and fear. When we look at how shepherding was done in Israel in the time of Jesus, you would see that it is a different way of shepherding. Shepherds took every measure to make sure the sheep were safe and not in danger. The shepherd would put himself in danger to protect the sheep. This concept of shepherding is to care for the sheep through tenderness, trust, and nurturing.
Every day the sheep heard the shepherd’s voice. The shepherd would lead, provide, and kept them from harm. They learned to ignore any voice that wasn’t familiar to them. So now how do we learn to hear God’s voice? Here are a few keys ways.
- Scripture
- Peace of God
- Godly Counsel
- Listen
- Obey
Are there any other that you could add? Do you hear God on a regular base? Is there a barrier that is stopping you from hearing God’s voice?
Here are some barriers that may be stopping you from hearing God’s voice!
- Not setting aside time with God
- Pride
- Unconfessed Sin
- Bitterness and resentment
- Fear
Is there anyone of these that is a barrier for you? There may be seasons in your life where God is silent. Keep trusting God. Keep praying. Keep watching for Him. He is still there.
Now let’s read Isaiah 41:4; 43:10; 43:13, 43:25; 46: 4; 48:12; and 51:12. What truths did you find in these verses.
Jesus is our protector, provider, portion, and pathway. He is everything we need and capable of filling in the gaps of our wants as well. These truths must sink deep into our souls or lies will seep into our lives. We must stay alert. Be sensitive to the subtleties. Have morally resolved.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Jesus our good shepherd. Thank you for your gentle, nurturing care. I pray that we will learn to know your voice and will make it a top priority of knowing your voice.
In Jesus Name
Amen
