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Day 54: One Flock, Many Folds (SoS 1:7b)

“Tell me, O you whom I love, Where you feed your flock, Where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions?

Song of Songs 1:7

In our scripture, we see the word flock in both its singular and plural forms. To be with the Beloved, to be among his flock is to also  be at home by the flocks of his friend. Women in those days veiled themselves in the company of strangers. She was expressing a desire to be friends with the companions of her Beloved.

In John 10:16, Jesus said to Jewish believers:

"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."

He was talking about bringing Gentiles from all over the world into His fold, His flock. The universal church is one body of believers. One family. One flock of Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd. However, Peter in 1 Peter 5:4 called Jesus the  Chief Shepherd, indicating there are other shepherds n the church who labor with Christ to tend to his flock. These are the ones referred to in our text as the companions of our Beloved. These companions are friends of the Beloved, recruited by Him like He did Peter in John 21 to care for His sheep. These are the men we know as Pastors. 

The Chief shepherd groups His flock into smaller flocks, and folds of sheep and sets men as overseers and co-laborers to tend to His sheep. Luke 11:42 calls them stewards assigned to give the others in the household their meat at the right time. So their job is to care for the well-being of the sheep entrusted to them.

God's wisdom is to set every believer in a fold when we become a part of Christ's flock. Jesus could've referred to us as any other animal, but He wanted us to have an accurate understanding of our Christian walk and relationship with Him. Sheep are social animals, their natural instinct is to herd together. Shepherds say that sheep isolated from a flock undergo severe stress and panic. It's so bad that shepherds use mirrors in such cases to trick them that they are not alone.

The reason sheep are so panicky alone is that they know that strength is in numbers. No sheep alone can take on a predator because their only response to danger is to run. Unfortunately, speed is not their strength. Many predators can outrun them so they band together for protection. Jesus said in Matthew 10:6 that we are sheep in the midst of wolves. 1Peter 5, verse 8 in the Amplified Classic version reads:

"Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour."

A stressed and panicky sheep cannot be alert, temperate, vigilant, or cautious. So for us to survive and not just survive but thrive in our faith, we must belong to a fold.

Ultimately, the shepherd as we looked at in Lesson 52 protects his flock from danger. Jesus the good shepherd has entrusted men to look after us His flock. So it's not enough to be with Jesus in His flock, we must be at home with His companions, His friends whom He has entrusted to look after our welfare. Every believer must belong to a local church, it's not a choice, it's a necessity for survival.

We must remember however Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11:1 for the church to imitate him only as he imitates Christ. Our Pastors are stewards, we belong to Jesus. So we must prioritize our relationship with Jesus. We must be careful to imitate from them only that which is in line with the word of God.

(For more on the local church, see Lesson 26: The Called-Along Community)

PRAY WITH ME:
Dear Lord, thank you for the wisdom of the local church. I submit to your authority as the Chief Shepherd and I rededicate myself to the family of believers you have placed me in. Lord, give me the wisdom to follow them, to follow your shepherds without making you second place. Amen.

REFLECT AND ACT:
  • Do you belong to a local church and how is your relationship with the shepherd God has placed over that fold?
  • Pauls says in Hebrews 13:17:
"Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either]."
  • Evaluate your relationship with your local church Pastor, how can you ensure they watch over you with joy and not grief?

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