Devotionals

Downcast and Sprawled

by Anne Adams
11/02/24
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Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?  42:5a ( NIV)

An online video I saw recently was both shocking and yet surprising. It showed a sheep in a pasture sprawled on his back, his legs waving helplessly in the air. There then arrived a youngster who approached the distraught animal from the back, quickly stuffed hands under him, lifted him up and set him up right to recover. Then as the video ended, there appeared a comment that farm kids who did this knew the importance of getting the sheep back on his feet. They usually hurried to upright a sheep that has been “cast down.”

So how can that occur? It usually happens because the sheep may be pregnant or just have a too-heavy fleece - so they topple over. However, such a position can be dangerous because it prevents the sheep fromA breathing and they could suffocate. So it’s important that if a shepherd comes across a sheep that’s “cast” he will lift him up to his feet, keeping a keep a gentle hand on him till he’s balanced and steady on his feet. Then the sheep usually runs off to rejoin the flock.

When the Psalmist, who might have been a shepherd himself, uses the image of a sprawled out sheep as a picture of his own fear, perhaps guilt or depression. Something we ourselves might experience. Until, that is, that the loving Shepherd comes along, scoops up and steadies us, then helps us regain our spiritual equilibrium.  Then once recovered we’re again equipped to return to His service with restored purpose, joy and strength.  

The Psalmist summed up the remedy: “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him…” (Psalms 42:5b )