It's really a magnificent book! First published in 1970....I think that by the mid-80s most Christians read it....W. Philip Keller's....A Shepherd Looks At The 23rd Psalm. Keller led....at the very least....an interesting life....as a scientist at times....a pastor at times....a photo-journalist....and a sheep rancher & shepherd! I would never question his qualifications to speak about sheep after reading that book of his. They were not only possessions.....which he points out that he owned them....he paid for them....he raised them....they knew him....but he loved them!
This isn't a theological treatise....and I don't know how effective of a pastor the author was.....but he knew sheep....and he perfectly correlated this to us....and himself....fellow sheep....following The Good Shepherd.....and The good Shepherd.....watching over us!
Folks....this book is up there with John Bunyan's....The Pilgrim's Progress....not in the great doctrines of the church....along those lines A Shepherd Looks At The 23rd Psalm is no where near the level of Bunyan's masterpiece....but on that one topic....sheep....and shepherds....it is so encouraging and informative! So many times I wanted to just thank and praise God for this wonderful design of sheep and the Shepherd that loves them....stubborn and timid....and quite frankly....stupid....as they so often are. You can easily read it just by Googling it up.
I could write much too long of a post on the many things that W. Philip Keller wrote about sheep. I won't for your sake....but I have to give an example or two. Keller writes on how the flock will be on the way to good water....but they will often run off to drink from muddy or fetid ponds. He tells of a beautiful....perfectly formed female sheep that he once owned....that was just a delight to look at....and of who He as a sheep rancher and shepherd loved....but that ewe just had it in her to run to the fences and try to get into other pastures....even though those pastures were not as good.....and other sheep would follow her! Well Keller had no other choice....to keep the other sheep from harm....how do I put this....they probably had lamb for dinner one evening. One last humorous example....a friend arrived by car one day....and her tiny Pekingese pup jumped out and barked....and the entire flock of sheep ran for the hills in fear. Well....I been there....how about you?
