What It Means for the Sheep to Have No Shepherd
by Pastor Dag Heward-MIlls
1. AIMLESSNESS: People are aimless and without direction when there is no shepherd to lead them out and bring them in.
And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and WHICH MAY LEAD THEM OUT, AND WHICH MAY BRING THEM IN; THAT THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD BE NOT AS SHEEP WHICH HAVE NO SHEPHERD.
Numbers 27:15-17
2. DIVISION: People are divided and without a family when there is no shepherd.
And he said, I SAW ALL ISRAEL SCATTERED UPON THE HILLS, AS SHEEP THAT HAVE NOT A SHEPHERD: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
1 Kings 22:17
3. WEAKNESS AND DISEASE: People are diseased and weakened without a shepherd.
THE DISEASED HAVE YE NOT STRENGTHENED, NEITHER HAVE YE HEALED THAT WHICH WAS SICK, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Ezekiel 34:4-6
4. UNSOLVED TROUBLES: People have a lot of unsolved troubles when there is no shepherd.
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, THEY WERE TROUBLED, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHEPHERD.
Zechariah 10:2
5. DESTRUCTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE: The little ones and the young ones are most affected by the absence of the shepherd.
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I WILL TURN MINE HAND UPON THE LITTLE ONES.
Zechariah 13:7
6. LACK AND SHORTAGE: People’s needs are not met when there is no shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd; I SHALL NOT WANT.
Psalm 23:1
7. GOING OFF COURSE: Sheep need direction to stay on the course of prosperity and blessing for their lives. Sheep receive much direction for their lives through shepherds.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 77:20
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Psalm 80:1
1. AIMLESSNESS: People are aimless and without direction when there is no shepherd to lead them out and bring them in.
And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and WHICH MAY LEAD THEM OUT, AND WHICH MAY BRING THEM IN; THAT THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD BE NOT AS SHEEP WHICH HAVE NO SHEPHERD.
Numbers 27:15-17
2. DIVISION: People are divided and without a family when there is no shepherd.
And he said, I SAW ALL ISRAEL SCATTERED UPON THE HILLS, AS SHEEP THAT HAVE NOT A SHEPHERD: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
1 Kings 22:17
3. WEAKNESS AND DISEASE: People are diseased and weakened without a shepherd.
THE DISEASED HAVE YE NOT STRENGTHENED, NEITHER HAVE YE HEALED THAT WHICH WAS SICK, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Ezekiel 34:4-6
4. UNSOLVED TROUBLES: People have a lot of unsolved troubles when there is no shepherd.
For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, THEY WERE TROUBLED, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SHEPHERD.
Zechariah 10:2
5. DESTRUCTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE: The little ones and the young ones are most affected by the absence of the shepherd.
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I WILL TURN MINE HAND UPON THE LITTLE ONES.
Zechariah 13:7
6. LACK AND SHORTAGE: People’s needs are not met when there is no shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd; I SHALL NOT WANT.
Psalm 23:1
7. GOING OFF COURSE: Sheep need direction to stay on the course of prosperity and blessing for their lives. Sheep receive much direction for their lives through shepherds.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 77:20
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Psalm 80:1
