A shepherd must be both brave and kind. He must fear no foe, and he must ever heed the needs of his flock. And in this double character we feel sure the Lord Jesus in heaven, the chief Shepherd of the sheep, expects the under shepherds to behave themselves on behalf of the flock of God: on the one hand, to go before them ― for the devil, as a roaring lion, is not afar off, and perverse men also are about for no good ends—and, on the other hand, to be of a ready mind, full of love, and in gentleness and patience to care for the weak and the timid among God’s dear people.
At night the sheep lie down and sleep within the protective walls of the sheepfold. What about the shepherd? In the days of David and our Lord, the shepherd put the sheep down for the night, and then he would position himself at the entrance, the doorway, and spend the night there, being sure none entered to harm the sheep and no sheep went out into danger. Our Shepherd never slumbers or sleeps; He watches over us night and day.
Faithful Words for Young and Old, Vol. 13 (adapted)