The Bible is full of what is called, word pictures. These are word descriptions that bring up a vivid image of something greater than the mere words. The saying is true, a picture is worth a thousand words. Look at this comparison between good and bad shepherds of God’s people:
Bad Shepherds
- Take care of themselves
- Worry about their own health
- Rule harshly and brutally
- Abandon and scatter the sheep
- Keep the best for themselves
Good Shepherds
- Take care of their flock
- Strengthen the weak and sick, search for the lost
- Rule lovingly and gently
- Gather and protect the sheep
- Give their best to the sheep
Great Shepherding Verses:
Numbers 27:17, 2 Samuel 5:2, 1 Kings 22:17, Psalm 23:1, 28:9, 77:20, 78:71, Isaiah 13:14, 40:11, 56:10-11, Jeremiah 3:15, 10:21, 23:1, 23:4, 25:34, 50:6, Ezekiel 34:2, 5, 10, 11-12, 23, Zechariah 11:4-17, Matthew 2:6, 9:36, 25:32, 26:31, Luke 15:1-7, John 10:1-21, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25, 5:2-4, Jude 1:12 NLT, Revelation 7:17