This is Part 3 of a three part series on our “three-fold” relationship with God. In Part 1 I covered “God, the Father of Spirits.” In Part 2 I covered “God as Lover of the Church.”

Part 3: God As Shepherd Of Our Bodies

We are a Spirit, we have a soul, and we live in this world in a material body. God wants us to have a relationship with Him in our physical bodies. This relationship is described in Scripture as being like that of a shepherd with his sheep.

This was not merely like a relationship with property or material wealth, but rather like the relationship with ones household pet. Indeed, it was the priests duty to protect the sacrificial lambs so that they would have no blemish. In doing so, they often took them into their household where they became pets.

God, the Shepherd of Israel

In the Old Testament we find God describing Himself as the Shepherd of Israel, Ezekiel 34:11-31; Zechariah 10:2-3. He is very angry when the human shepherds abuse, neglect, or fail to protect their sheep.God’s ‘sheep’ are loved and well cared for.

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand…,” Psalm 95.6-7.

“And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I AM your God, saith the Lord God,” Ezekiel 34.31. See also Psalm 79.13.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 describes this relationship of tender loving care and abundant supply:

(1)”The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

(2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

(3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

(4) Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

(5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

(6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep: John 10:11-18:

(11)”I AM the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.

(12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep.

(13)The hireling fleeth because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

(14)I AM the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine,

(15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

(16) And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.

(17) Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

(18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I of my Father.”

Song: “The Ninety and Nine” – Words by Ira D. Sankey

“There were ninety and nine that safely lay, In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away, Far off from the gates of gold.

Away on the mountains wild and bare, Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

‘Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine: Are they not enough for Thee?
But the Shepherd made answer,” This of Mine has wandered away from Me:

And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep.
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through, ‘Ere He found His sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert He heard its cry, Sick and helpless and ready to die.
Sick and helpless and ready to die.

‘Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way, That mark out the mountain’s track?’
“They were shed for one who had gone astray, ‘Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”

‘Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?’ “They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.
They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

But all thro’ the mountains, thunder riven, And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry from the gates of heaven, “Rejoice, I have found My sheep.”

And the Angels echoed around the throne, “Rejoice for the Lord brings back His own!”
“Rejoice for the Lord brings back His own.”

I Peter 2.25: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

I Peter 5.4: “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”