"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:5-6

There are many beautiful little treasures in this beloved Psalm, and these verses are one of my favorites!

What does it mean to be hemmed in? Most people would think of sewing, but this is one of those verses that reminds me of growing up on our family farm. When the sheep escaped the confines of the farm and were wandering loose, or we needed to round them up for shearing or de-worming or bad weather, we would start from somewhere behind them, and gently, slowly, funnel them so that they came together as a group and meandered back in through the gate. You can't rush sheep. They are incredibly stupid animals!

But gathering up a flock of contrary sheep who willfully followed one after the other toward freedom (there was one wily old ewe who usually led the way) was much more difficult. There weren't many of us; often me and a sibling or two, or my mom or dad, and there were many more sheep than people. And once a sheep gets a taste of freedom (the grass always being greener on the other side!), they will break loose over and over--until the fence is repaired and the gates kept shut.

Gathering them is not easy. The "funnel" is full of holes. There are bushes, trees, clumps of thick weeds. There is the sight of green grass ahead and the open road. Sheep have one-track minds! They are not exceptionally bright; they are stubborn and foolish and will not listen and obey. They are easily frightened and run off in a panic for no reason, one sheep following another over the hillside.

And yet, so as to not frighten them, we would walk slowly, meandering along at an extremely slow pace (and thinking of all the other things we could be doing if it weren't for those darn sheep!), walking them quietly down the hill, a little pressure here, a little pressure there to force them back to the safety of the pasture.

If the sheep catch on, they invariably make another run for it. It requires patience and gentleness, with a hard nudge here and there.

Sheep sound terribly like us, don't they?!

I used to puzzle over why, in Jesus' parable in Matthew, it was the goats who were punished and not the sheep, until I realized that WE are like sheep. Stupid, stubborn and disobedient!

AND YET--

God hems us in, behind and before. He gently leads us along the right path. He sometimes needs to lay a hand upon us a bit forcefully, but the strong hand of the LORD gives us well-deserved whacks only when we need it. 'Ooh,' thinks a foolish sheep, 'what's that dangerous but cool-looking thing over there?!' WHACK! God administers a well-meaning smack! But once we are back in the fold, back in those green pastures, His hand gentles and soothes and holds us close.

Oh, to be hemmed in by the LORD! To have the sense to never roam! Such knowledge is so wonderful that we can't even begin to understand it! WHY would He bring me home, rebellious and stubborn as I am?! WHY would He lay His hand upon me, to teach me, to hold me?! WHY would He bother with me?! I am just one sheep, always fighting him, always seeking that greener grass, always thinking my way is best!

WHY DOES HE DO IT?! BECAUSE HE LOVES ME! 

Little sheep, learn your value. You are precious to the Good Shepherd. HE LOVES YOU!!! Do you not know this?! The knowledge is too wonderful to attain, but when you feel his arms around you or feel his not-so-gentle prod--accept the path chosen for you, and rest in His arms of love.

The Good Shepherd holds you close, for He loves you, you silly sheep! Lie down and rest in Him.