Goat
Children's sermon
Learning From the Lizard
Bible Animal Object Lessons
Object:
Basic Provider For Basic Needs
The lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field; there will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and nourishment for your servant girls (Proverbs 27:26-27 NRSV).
The goat entered significantly into every part of Hebrew life. The goat was acceptable for a sacrifice, provided meat, milk, cheese, goat hair for spinning, and skins for shelter or carrying of liquids.
There are 124 references in the Bible to the domestic goat and there is biblical evidence of how highly valued goats were. The wealth of Nabal depended in part on his goat herd. "He was a very rich man, the owner of 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats (1 Samuel 25:2). Jehoshaphat's wealth also included 7,700 goats (2 Chronicles 17:11).
The goat is a rugged animal and can find enough food to eat even on poor dry land. Goats will eat some strange things, but not tin cans as some have suggested.
The domestic goat of biblical times had long black hair and as such was the subject for poets. Even the writer of the Song of Solomon says: "How beautiful you are, my love! How your eyes shine with love behind your veil. Your hair dances like a flock of goats bounding down the hills of Gilead" (Song of Solomon 4:1 TEV).
The cover of the tent of the Covenant first made at Mount Sinai was made of goat's hair blankets (Exodus 26:7). Though not as valuable as sheep's wool, the goat hair was particularly important in weaving the durable tent cloth. It could be spun into tough twine. Considered inadequate for most clothing, mourning garments were often made from black goats' hair.
When goats were let out to pasture the most prominent male would lead, and when grazing the goats would follow their leader. The Hebrew writer was impressed by this and wrote: "There are four things that are impressive to watch as they walk: Lions ... he goats, strutting roosters and kings in front of their people" (Proverbs 30:29-30 TEV).
We must mention the importance of the goat in the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant. The goat could be used as the sacrificial animal as told about in Numbers chapter 7. The "scape goat" was important. These instructions were given:
When Aaron has finished performing the ritual to purify the most Holy Place ... he shall present to the Lord the live goat chosen to Azazel. He shall put both of his hands on the goat's head and confess over it all the evils, sins and rebellions of the people of Israel, and so transfer them to the goat's head. Then the goat is to be driven off into the desert ... The goat will carry all their sins away with him into some uninhabited land.
-- Leviticus 16:20-22 TEV
Scapegoat is defined in the dictionary as: "A person or thing bearing the blame for others." How wonderful to realize that for us, Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. More than a symbolic "scape goat," he is the sin offering for us. He is truly the wounded healer and by his stripes we are healed.
Lessons From The Goat
The goat as a remarkable little animal can turn barren provisions into things of value: food, clothing, and shelter. Maybe the lesson is "bloom where you are planted." Make use of your barren surroundings and transform them!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that by your death on the cross you provide the way to cleanse us from sin. If we confess our sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NRSV). Lead us, Lord, in your will and your way, and may we help others to find their way to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
The lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field; there will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and nourishment for your servant girls (Proverbs 27:26-27 NRSV).
The goat entered significantly into every part of Hebrew life. The goat was acceptable for a sacrifice, provided meat, milk, cheese, goat hair for spinning, and skins for shelter or carrying of liquids.
There are 124 references in the Bible to the domestic goat and there is biblical evidence of how highly valued goats were. The wealth of Nabal depended in part on his goat herd. "He was a very rich man, the owner of 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats (1 Samuel 25:2). Jehoshaphat's wealth also included 7,700 goats (2 Chronicles 17:11).
The goat is a rugged animal and can find enough food to eat even on poor dry land. Goats will eat some strange things, but not tin cans as some have suggested.
The domestic goat of biblical times had long black hair and as such was the subject for poets. Even the writer of the Song of Solomon says: "How beautiful you are, my love! How your eyes shine with love behind your veil. Your hair dances like a flock of goats bounding down the hills of Gilead" (Song of Solomon 4:1 TEV).
The cover of the tent of the Covenant first made at Mount Sinai was made of goat's hair blankets (Exodus 26:7). Though not as valuable as sheep's wool, the goat hair was particularly important in weaving the durable tent cloth. It could be spun into tough twine. Considered inadequate for most clothing, mourning garments were often made from black goats' hair.
When goats were let out to pasture the most prominent male would lead, and when grazing the goats would follow their leader. The Hebrew writer was impressed by this and wrote: "There are four things that are impressive to watch as they walk: Lions ... he goats, strutting roosters and kings in front of their people" (Proverbs 30:29-30 TEV).
We must mention the importance of the goat in the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant. The goat could be used as the sacrificial animal as told about in Numbers chapter 7. The "scape goat" was important. These instructions were given:
When Aaron has finished performing the ritual to purify the most Holy Place ... he shall present to the Lord the live goat chosen to Azazel. He shall put both of his hands on the goat's head and confess over it all the evils, sins and rebellions of the people of Israel, and so transfer them to the goat's head. Then the goat is to be driven off into the desert ... The goat will carry all their sins away with him into some uninhabited land.
-- Leviticus 16:20-22 TEV
Scapegoat is defined in the dictionary as: "A person or thing bearing the blame for others." How wonderful to realize that for us, Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. More than a symbolic "scape goat," he is the sin offering for us. He is truly the wounded healer and by his stripes we are healed.
Lessons From The Goat
The goat as a remarkable little animal can turn barren provisions into things of value: food, clothing, and shelter. Maybe the lesson is "bloom where you are planted." Make use of your barren surroundings and transform them!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that by your death on the cross you provide the way to cleanse us from sin. If we confess our sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NRSV). Lead us, Lord, in your will and your way, and may we help others to find their way to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
