This dream was like no other dream I've ever had...
I would love to hear any of your thoughts on this dream if it speaks to you or can interpret any of the details for me...
Yes, the dream speaks to me. I am aware of two stories that I could tell but I will tell one only. It is a story about a shepherd. It is a story about me.
"So back in the day," he says, starting this story as so many of his stories start,
"when I was much in the Spirit and much in the Word and the Lord, there came a time when an assignment was given..." While attending Bible College, this one was given a writing assignment. The instructor was a certified instructor and she wanted to encourage her students to write. The assignment was called an "Exegesis Paper," and the instructor explained that,
"The word 'exegesis' simply means to “bring out” the meaning of the passage. An exegesis paper is a research paper that uses scholarly sources in order to interpret the historical meaning and modern application of a Biblical passage." I was blessed with some exceptional and called-of-God instructors who had been blessed in their ministry to the saints. My instructor didn't want me to be "tied down" or to have to speak to any "heavy doctrinal" position so she made a point of expanding the scope of the paper to include to
any biblical topic or subject whatsoever. That suited me fine.
So the thesis of my exegesis (research paper) was simple. I wrote about Shepherds and their Sheep. This is such a rich analogy there could be books and books written on the subject and this young author, who speaks to you today, found quite an abundance of "scholarly sources" for the topic. Authorities were cited that spoke to the difference in 'style' and manner of shepherds that we are familiar with in the Western,
Occidental thought and the Oriental (including Middle Eastern) culture and thoughts. In the west one could hear a common phrase or utterance that would never be heard in Biblical lands, "Nothing dumber on God's green earth than a sheep." The attitude of our culture simply does not express the Love of God or properly carry the richness of the message of our relationship with the Good Shepherd at all.
So that was my premise and thesis statement. That there was more to learn than what we held true about sheep and how easily led they typically are. In the West, being called a sheep means being a person who thoughtlessly follows without sense. In Biblical lands we see a completely different picture. Now, it was an entire essay that I wrote then, complete with hand drawn pictures of "fat-tailed sheep" of the East and other illustrations. I'll spare you this and seek to get to the point.
You see, it was a common thing to allow the youngest male member of the family to tend the sheep in the various family enterprises that were typical of the times of Jesus and also of the time when King David was a young boy. When boys were even younger than 12 and 13 they were often entrusted with the responsibility of caring for that part of the family business and it was a common sight (still is, in some cases) to see a young boy playing a rudimentary flute to his friends and companions, the "flock". He on a hill or perched above, and the small flock grazing within the field of his watchful eye.
There were stories that also showed the relationship and the trained obedience too. If the young boy took his flock through the field of a neighbor the sheep would have to understand that they may not graze. The family would be responsible to pay for any "damage" that was suffered and the sheep were taught to look to the shepherd in all things. There was a trust relationship that went beyond dependency and toward the formation of a strong bond of love that flows both ways, from the shepherd to his sheep and also from the sheep to their care-giver and provider.
So the sheep knew to be obedient and learned to "love" from the heart of the shepherd. And there are many things to say here and many wondrous illustrations that could be made. Those who love stories will likely hear more from me, but this story is about a rather warm day, one day, a rather long time ago. In the story we find a young shepherd leading his sheep with them content to follow. He is leading them along a well traveled path, a rather wide path and there, not far ahead, the young shepherd spots a slight bend in the road. Now this shepherd was like you in a way, Edward, because he too could be 'mischievous' and he thought about a little 'trick' that he wanted to play. Without giving any warning and through very gradual increases in pace the young shepherd was able to increase the distance between him and his flock as they approached the bend or turn in the road. By the time he reached the turn he was a fair piece ahead of them and they were none-the-wiser.
That's when the "plan" was put into action and the Shepherd burst speedily around the bend and his eye sought for a hiding place; a large rock or a shrubbery to conceal himself. It was crucial that he "disappear" before the sheep noticed he was gone. Back on the other side of the bend and now out of line of sight, the sheep did notice his absence. One or two let out a startled bleat and the whole flock looked around, now disturbed and alarmed to the fact that they were alone and vulnerable. Their leader, the sheep who always stayed very close to the shepherd and always pressed in, the one who loved the shepherd and could not stand to be away from him, knew what to do. He began to pick up the pace and close the distance between him and where he knew his Master would be. There were more bleats of less distress heard and it was as if the message,
"follow me," was heard.
But then? Around the bend? And what was to be seen?
Nothing.
Where was he? The sound of the distress of the little flock grew even louder. Not everyone knows this but sheep lack a sense of direction. They may get lost easily and they know not what to do. But there is one thing they do know: Cry out. So they cried out. That's when the young boy popped out from his little hiding spot and began to tussle and play with his friends. In their joy and exuberance for the restoration, the sheep could be seen actually pronking as they gamboled about their loved one who had been restored to them. Instead of "pronking" straight up like gazelles do when frightened, the sheep would see-saw back and forth from back to front legs and let the sound of their hearts be heard. It was a joyful noise.
Aside from the lesson that we may learn about how, when we are startled and feel for a moment that the Lord has left us, and aside from the knowledge of the Promise,
"I will never leave you, nor forsake you," we may also see that sometimes the Lord appears to withdraw (from our viewpoint) because he wants us to hurry and to follow Him. In addition, this story, about the mischievous Shepherd, is given to your question, Edward. You've asked for "thoughts on this dream if it speaks to you." This thought is one of mine.
Here's another: In the Name and by the power that is given to me, I command,
"Grow, thou son of the Most High. Grow." Edward, grow in grace and peace and in the knowledge of The Christ, Jesus.
:nod