The “Cast Down” Sheep

I recently started reading a new book titled: “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm” by Phillip Keller, and it’s been spectacular! It’s been really neat to see all of the similarities he points out between sheep and people. With quite a few of the similarities, my first thought was, “Okay, I feel slightly offended.” 😆 Sometimes the truth hurts. 😜 As Keller says in his book, “It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep.” 😁🐑

Last night in chapter 5 he was talking about how the Lord “restores our souls”, and he mentions how David knew what it was like to be “cast down”. Psalm 42:11 – “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God…”. Now here’s the cool part! Keller points out how there is a specific parallel between sheep and people with this. There is a term that old English shepherds used called a “cast” or a “cast down” sheep. This refers to when a sheep has turned over on its back and can’t get up again by itself. Most of the time the sheep will become frantic, flailing its legs in the air, sometimes bleating a little for help. And if the shepherd does not show up to help it up, one of two bad things will happen: 1. From the sheep’s frantic thrashing around, gases will start to build up inside of the sheep and will eventually cut off the blood circulation to the extremities of the body. If a sheep is in the hot sun in this condition, it will die in a matter of hours. 2. Predators such as buzzards, dogs, coyotes will kill the sheep in this vulnerable position.

When we as humans get “cast down” in our spirits, we can tend to stress ourselves out, and too much stress can actually cause harm to our bodies! But if we will simply call out to our Good Shepherd and trust Him to help us, He has promised to hear and answer when we call, to give “perfect peace” to the one who’s mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3), and He has promised to be “near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) Also, when we are “cast down”, if we do not turn to our Shepherd in our distress, we will be easy prey for Satan’s attacks with his lies and temptations.

While thinking on these parallels, I got tickled by a thought that popped into my head…I do believe that the next time I get “cast down”, all I’m going to see is this mental image of a wooly little sheep with its legs frantically flailing about, bleating for her Shepherd to come turn her right side up. 😂😂😂

I hope you are having a blessed week. Let’s be looking to our good, kind Shepherd this week, who restores our souls and leads us in the paths of righteousness – to the praise and glory of HIS name!

Sincerely,