The Shepherd and His Sheep

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified…” *

Whenever my mom’s dad, “Grandpa Fred,” would make the trip from Oakland to Bakersfield, California for a visit, we would take him to a Basque restaurant in downtown Bakersfield. Grandpa Fred loved Basque food and the culture in general.

The Basque people in California came from a region along the border between Spain and France during the Gold Rush years. Those who were unsuccessful in finding gold eventually moved throughout the west; and many of the young men worked as sheepherders. At one time there was a large Basque community in downtown Bakersfield with boarding houses, restaurants, bakeries and social halls.

During the heat of the summer, the sheepherders took their flocks to the mountains where they could find food in abundance. In the winter they could be seen around the outskirts of town, always with a dog or two and a small trailer parked in the vicinity of the flock. It seemed like a very simple and lonely lifestyle.

The restaurant had long tables set up, where people would sit shoulder to shoulder, sometimes right along with the men who had come in for a spell from the pastures. Noriega’s was famous in our city for its variety as well as quantity of food. Plate after plate of food was served at the table…and when we kids were full and ready to rest, in would come the main courses, with different kinds of meat and spaghetti until we thought we’d burst.

Grandpa Fred, descending from pioneers and formerly a lumberman before settling down in Oakland, loved every bite. It was definitely his kind of place! He used to try to get me to take a taste of every type of food that was served. But I balked when it came to pickled cow’s tongue.

Although there are fewer Basque sheepherders today, flocks of sheep can still be seen grazing around Lake Success and other areas of the valley to help minimize the danger of brush fires.  

There are many references to shepherds in the Bible. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the forefathers of the nation of Israel, traveled throughout the land of Canaan caring for flocks of goats and sheep. And centuries later, a man from Bethlehem who had tended his father’s sheep as a youth was chosen to be Israel’s king.

  King David recognized the Lord as his shepherd and wrote about this relationship in the twenty-third Psalm.  He expressed confidence that because God was his shepherd, he didn’t have to worry about being in want. His good Shepherd would provide for all of his needs, comfort his soul, protect and defend him. David had the strong assurance that he would be with the Lord forever. He sounded like a very satisfied sheep!

The prophets who came after David also used the same theme. Isaiah said, “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  He told of a coming Messiah who would lay down his life for mankind, his sheep.

When it was time for the Messiah, God’s Son, to come into the world, those who were among the first to hear of His birth were shepherds tending their flocks outside the town of Bethlehem.

 “‘Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord’…so they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” * They couldn’t stay long; they had to get back to their flocks. Good shepherds always stay with their sheep unless otherwise directed by angels!

During the three years of His ministry Jesus took on this role saying, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) And so He did.

 Not only does Jesus know each of us personally, but He guides us along on our way, loves us and gives us the promise of salvation through faith in His name.

We never are alone. Jesus, our good shepherd is always with us. Now that’s something to ponder this Christmas—and always

*Luke 2:8-9, 11,16 NIV

(pictures taken from online search: Basque sheepherders in the San Joaquin Valley, CA)