Cast down, picked up, or need picking up?
John 10:27
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
PHILLIP KELLER, in his book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, describes a danger that is unique to sheep. Shepherds call it “cast down” or simply “cast.” It has to do with a sheep that cannot regain its feet. Keller writes:
Even the largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiest sheep can become “cast” and be a casualty. The way it happens is this. A heavy, fat, or long-fleeced sheep will lie down comfortably in some little hollow or depression in the ground. It may roll on its side slightly to stretch out or relax. Suddenly the center of gravity in the body shifts so that it turns on its back far enough that the feet no longer touch the ground. It may feel a sense of panic and start to paw frantically. Frequently this only makes things worse. It rolls over even further. Now it is quite impossible for it to regain its feet.
Keller then continues to discuss some problems that are unique to sheep. The overall thrust of his book is how utterly helpless sheep are! Among the animal kingdom sheep seem to have come out on the short end. From all accounts they are of limited intelligence. When it comes to finding food, they are definitely uncreative. As creatures of habit, they will follow paths through desolate places even though not far away is excellent forage. Sheep are also given to listless wandering. There are even accounts of their walking into an open fire! Shepherds confirm that they are timid and stubborn. They can be frightened by the most ridiculous things, though at other times nothing can move them. They are absolutely defenseless. There is no way a sheep can defend itself. Furthermore, of all the animals subject to husbandry, they take the most work.
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- Are you cast down today?
- Do we want a quick fix on Sunday?
- Or something that works and lasts?
- What’s the most important thing being a follower of Jesus has taught you?
- Are you willing to be shepherded? Picked up?
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John 10:22-42
[22] At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” [25] Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, [26] but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.”
[31] The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. [32] Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” [33] The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” [34] Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? [35] If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—[36] do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? [37] If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; [38] but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” [39] Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
[40] He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. [41] And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” [42] And many believed in him there.
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When we think of shepherd in the Bible you might be drawn to this passage.
Psalm 23
[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
[2] He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
[3] He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
[4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
[5] You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
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Are you willing to be shepherded? ……Or only shepherded out of Hell?
Back to my question to the kids.
Kids – have you ever fallen and got hurt? If you fell today, who would pick you up? Better yet, if they told you how to not get hurt again, would you listen and would you do what they said? I bet only if it hurt bad enough.
I have someone in my life who I love dearly.
But that person won’t be shepherded by the Good Shepherd. They won’t listen…… they are cast down and don’t want to be picked up and set on their feet.
They insist on their own way. I’m not sure if it’s sin, mental illness, selfishness, past pain or all of the above, but in reality the outcome is the same until we address the issue right? It’s pain and brokenness and suffering for all connected.
Sin tries to make you hide
Whispers that same old lie
Keep all your pain inside
‘Cause no one will understand
The last thing this lost world needs
Is someone I’m trying to be
Truth that has set me free
Is that I’m just a broken man
You all understand that we’re fallen and broken due to sin and then when we ask Jesus into our lives He makes us new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
….but we struggle against the flesh until we die.
Galatians 5:17
[17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
….and really not only the flesh but the dark forces of the world that are out to get you.
Ephesians 6:12
[12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
….so what are the instructions on battling it?
Romans 12:2
[2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
….reads easier than it really is pastor. I’ve been battling this stuff a long time. How?
Let the Shepherd pick you up.
John 10:27
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
You all understand that’s what the Jews here are struggling with? They don’t recognize Him. If you recognize Him and He’s who He says He is then that changes everything. If He is big enough to create the Universe and do all the miracles of the Bible and come to earth and save us…
Colossians 1:16-17
[16] For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
If everything is held together by His will then we need to listen to the rest of His instructions and they are not easy. It is a narrow road by Jesus’ own words.
Are you cast down? Let Him pick you up.
