I will just briefly look at the sheep’s obligation to the shepherd. The sheep were kept were needed so as to provide milk, wool, horns for either anointing containers or as trumpets, fleece for providing clothing. Lastly to occasions they were needed for meat.
The meat was eaten on special and sacrificial purposes. The Passover lamb was roasted as a whole as in Exodus 12:9 (Gower, op.cit p 132). While the killing of the sheep was usually preserved for the owner of the sheep, the shepherd was allowed to milk the sheep.In the case that the flock also consisted of goats, the goats also had a benefit (though I would be useful to know that goats always head-butt the sheep, though sheep have stronger heads. There are people in church who try to stifle the spiritual growth of others). Their milk was used to make a type of yoghurt and cheese. Their meat was used even for ordinary meals and also for sacrificial purposes. Their hair was used in tent-covering as well as for coarse clothing, for stuffing things like pillows, and the hangings in the Tabernacle were made of these.
The Obligations Of The Flock To The Shepherd |
However the sheep should be willing to provide the necessary resources for the well-being of a sherpherd:
- Love them
- Pray for them
- Speak well for them
- Defend them
- Listen and obey every godly word
- Promote them
- Give them gifts
- Give them money
- Give them comfort
By Apostle Pride Sibiya