Topical Bible: Sheep were Frequently: Destroyed by Wild Beasts

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In biblical times, sheep were a vital part of agrarian life, providing wool, meat, and milk. However, they were also vulnerable to attacks from wild beasts, a recurring theme in the Scriptures that underscores the need for vigilant shepherding and divine protection.

Biblical References:

1. David as a Shepherd: One of the most notable accounts of sheep being threatened by wild beasts is found in the account of David. Before he became king, David was a shepherd who protected his flock from predators. In 1 Samuel 17:34-36, David recounts to King Saul how he defended his sheep: "Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it."

2. The Role of Shepherds: The role of a shepherd was crucial in protecting sheep from wild animals. In John 10:12, Jesus contrasts the good shepherd with the hired hand: "The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock." This passage highlights the vulnerability of sheep and the importance of a committed shepherd.

3. Prophetic Imagery: The imagery of sheep being attacked by wild beasts is also used prophetically to describe the plight of Israel. In Ezekiel 34:5, the prophet laments the condition of the people: "They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered, they became food for all the wild beasts."

4. Divine Protection: Despite the threats from wild beasts, the Bible often emphasizes God's role as the ultimate protector of His flock. In Psalm 23:1-4, David writes, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. 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."

Theological Significance:

The frequent mention of sheep being destroyed by wild beasts serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual dangers faced by God's people. Just as sheep are defenseless without a shepherd, believers are vulnerable without the guidance and protection of God. The imagery underscores the necessity of faithful leadership and the assurance of divine care.

In the New Testament, Jesus is depicted as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). This portrayal not only emphasizes His sacrificial love but also His commitment to protecting His followers from spiritual harm. The recurring theme of sheep and wild beasts in the Bible thus serves as a reminder of the constant need for vigilance, leadership, and reliance on God's providence.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 50:17
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria has devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Micah 5:8
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the middle of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and none can deliver.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 10:12
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

'Other Sheep'
... flame, though all the blasts from hell were to fan ... a man believe that Christ has
other sheep for whom ... one"our minds should be more frequently occupied with ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/other sheep.htm

The General Deliverance
... hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen ... in their will, in their passions;
which were then variously distorted, and frequently set in ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 60 the general deliverance.htm

The Book of Enoch
... Jubilees, the words of Enoch are frequently cited, and ... Israel, who neglected their
duty and were doomed to ... of Cyrus, the three returning sheep being Zerubbabel ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of enoch.htm

Precious Deaths
... who did not care for his sheep might suffer ... Child, here is no destruction; there
were little birds ... on his little ones, and, therefore, frequently gathers them ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/precious deaths.htm

Ancient Chaldaea
... this artifice to men, and they were frequently represented with a ... namely, the ass,
ox, goat, and sheep; the horse ... made their tears to flow: there were mixed up ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm

Introduction to Oration ii.
... offer gifts, [2604] in order that idolatry might be destroyed. ... 2659] After frequently
condemning us ... because there was no shepherd, the sheep were scattered over ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction to oration ii.htm

The Treasure Cave
... The narrative was frequently broken by low exclamations from Rachel ... I live, and I
would she were to be ... a multitude in Israel, which, like sheep, follow blindly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xx the treasure cave.htm

Yea, Though I Walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will ...
... Easier it were to conquer the whole external world of ... Frequently during life we are,
of a certainty, encompassed ... He loves us, His weak and timid sheep; we are ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/callan/the shepherd of my soul/vii yea though i walk.htm

Period ii. The Post-Apostolic Age: AD 100-AD 140
... floor, of thy oxen and of thy sheep, thou shalt ... also made as to sins whereby some
were regarded as ... who has sinned and repented; but not frequently; for there ...
/.../a source book for ancient church history/period ii the post-apostolic age .htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... whatever seemed good to him, and frequently entered into ... and Barku, the lightning;
sometimes these were only the ... As he destroyed everything in his blind rage ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm