Beware of sheep: A warning to the persecutors of Christ’s people

You mess us, you mess with Him.  That means bad news for you.  You have been warned.  Let the sheep of Jesus be encouraged.

[My good friend Brice Young reminded me that our old pastor, Dr. Ralph Davis, had this sign hanging from his office door].

An encouragement to the believer from Psalm 95: for He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.

From John 10, Jesus speaking: I am the good shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep.  My sheep know my voice and I know them.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

A warning and prayer against the persecutors of Jesus’ flock:

Psalm 10: He [the persecutor] boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. 5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. 6 He says to himself, “Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.” 7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. 8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. 9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. 11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees.” 12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? 14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. 16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.