We raised sheep when I was a kid. They are dumb and lazy. If one laid down in a furrow or slight depression and it was too much trouble to get up. It would lay there and die. So if you saw one laying in the same place too long, ya better get out there and get it up!
Why does He call us SHEEP? (The Bible makes reference to sheep no less than 220 times). A few of the more notable passages that come to mind are the 23rd Psalm, Isa. 53:6 and John 10.
There are many references to His People being sheep. So why not something more powerful, like a ram or horse? Why not something more graceful and valued, like a prized bird? Well, God chose to use the word sheep to identify His followers, as we are "His sheep." Our shepherd, Jesus, is leading the way, so let's look at the facts about sheep-the nature of sheep.
Let's look at the facts about sheep-
*Sheep aren’t intelligent. Sheep are not known to be smart or cunning animals when it comes to safety; rather, they are susceptible and tend to wander away from the protection of the shepherd. Compared to the wisdom of God, all knowing, all loving, human intelligence doesn't compare. (1 Corin 3:19). People tend to wander away from God, from everything that is right and holy.
• Sheep respond to the shepherd's voice. The voice of the shepherd brings comfort and security to the sheep. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 ).
Sheep are Directionless - Sheep get lost easily. Individual sheep easily wander away from the flock while they graze. When even one sheep goes astray, the shepherd goes after it and restores it to the flock. As Isaiah 53:6 indicates, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” . If a sheep wanders off from the rest of the herd, it will have a hard, if not impossible time, finding its way back. They have no sense of direction. So it is with those outside the Lord, there is simply no sense of spiritual direction in their lives. They cannot find their way to the Lord by themselves.
*Sheep are weak and need a shepherd/people are spiritually weak and need THE Shepherd. . In a human's unsaved, deprived mind, humans are always weak, foolish and ignorant. That is why they always need the shepherd to care for them. Sheep need someone to protect them. Ever seen a “Beware of Sheep” sign posted on someone’s gate? Have you ever seen a wide-eyed animal fleeing for its life from a bleating lamb? Never! Sheep aren’t dangerous they’re virtually defenseless. All they can do is freeze in their tracks, or at best run. Without claws, sharp teeth, speed, or a resounding roar to make predators think twice before pouncing, sheep are easy prey. They can’t scamper up a tree, camouflage their color, or even swim. When they sense danger, the poor, timid sheep panic. Jesus disciples must have shuddered with fear when He told them, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matt.10:16a). A sheep’s best defense is to stay close to the shepherd and remain with the herd. The same is true with us, isn’t it? When we’re out of fellowship with God and isolated from other Christians, we’re most vulnerable. We need the Shepherd’s wisdom and strength to survive, as well as the comfort and encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
• Sheep become restless. There are two major reasons why sheep become restless: hunger and bugs. Hunger: Sheep can graze peacefully for hours, but they become restless when food is scarce. Spiritual hunger occurs when the word of God is lacking. The Bible tells us that the Good Shepherd, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2). * A well fed sheep will not quickly feed at a stranger's hand, but hungry sheep will eat anything. (Stay full on God’s word). Bugs: There is in the Middle East a bug that torments sheep by landing and nesting on their heads. If the bug remains undetected by the shepherd, it will multiply and eventually blind the sheep. Shepherds in the Middle East routinely rub olive oil on sheeps' heads to prevent the bug from landing on them, thereby eliminating the problem. In Scripture, the devil is called Beelzebub (the lord of the flies). In the Spirit realm, therefore, bugs are symbolic of demons. The anointing of the Holy Spirit protects us from being harassed by demons.
*A Sheep is a Personal, a Prized and a Precious Possession - This sheep belonged to the shepherd, he had paid a personal price to own it and wasn't going to stand idly by while it was lost. (Ill. The price Jesus paid for the sheep - Ill. Calvary - 1 Cor. 6:19-20) - This sheep may have been no different from any other ordinary sheep, but it was special to the shepherd. To him, it was a prized possession.
*Sheep need plenty of water. In the Bible regions, the shepherds had to get their sheep to water very regularly. As Christians, we need the living water of the Holy Spirit continually. We cannot go without it. John 7:38 says: "He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water; In dry spells they may not go to get water. They will mob round a tree in a dry paddock or an empty water trough until they die of thirst. They need someone to lead them beside still water. People are often helpless, easily intimidated and will head away from help when it is offered. They need a shepherd to guide them.
*Sheep follow the voice of their own Shepherd (no other shepherd). The Bible says the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. They are not without understanding! They follow the One whom they know. You may never have a complete understanding of your circumstances with all the answers to the questions of life, but you will understand the love of God and the importance of following the Lord to the green pastures and living water. The shepherd is at the front of the sheep and leads the sheep. The sheep know their shepherd, the sound of his voice and follow him. This is also the way that the sheep are separated into separate herds after grazing or sleeping together. The shepherd calls the sheep and they come. They need no markings to distinguish them - all they need is the sound of the shepherd's voice.
*Sheep can not get up on their own. If they fall down (“cast down”), they must have a shepherd to lift them up or they will die.
P7744 you are on the wrong thread. Long copy and pasted posts were for the other thread. I tell you what; I'll be the bigger man and move over there. You can have this one. Fair enough?
Why do people believe sheep are dumb, i find sheep to be very intelligent.
John 10 verses 1-6
Parable of the Good Shepherd
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2"But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." 6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
Yes sheep do dumb things, but when it comes to their relationship with their shepherd, they will not follow a stranger as they do not know the strangers voice.
A dog will go to a stranger when its name is said, a cat looks to pet or to be fed.
The cat does not care who feeds it as long as the food smells good.
I have two little parrots who are really smart and love children. They play with about 150 children Saturday and Sunday and then I give them Photos of the parrots with Scripture and candy at the flea market. Parrots can be great Evangelists!!
Teach them to talk and quote scripture. .One guy on youtube taught his budgies to say 35 different things. They love to say Hey Siri....Hey Alexa....Cute baby bird!.....Brrring, Briing...this is birdphone...Bring me some BBQ chicken..I have two budgies...so far nothing.
You can teach your male Budgies or Parakeets how to talk but you usually have to pay a bird teacher to teach them. I just teach my parrots to be very friendly and I really don't care if they talk since they don/t understand what they are saying.