Object Symbolism in Scripture

The Symbolism relates to various aspects like:

Sustainability of the land for sheep husbandry
The sheep in the foldThe Shepherd

The enclosing Wall
We've seen above that a robber (False shepherd/Messiah), can enter the fold over the wall. In Ezekiel 13:10 we have bad shepherds who, like in our day, build a flimsy wall to bring peace to Israel - an unsustainable negotiated peace forbidden by Mosaic law (Scroll bar below).
Ezekiel 13:10 "'Because they lead my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, "Where is the whitewash you covered it with?" 13 "'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. 14 I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the LORD. 15 So I will spend my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, "The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign LORD."' NIV

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(1) Sustainability of the land for sheep husbandry
Isaiah 13:20 She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there VS. the land the Jews returned to:
Ezek 34:13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. NIV

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2. Israel
Psalms 98:3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God
Gen 48:15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, "May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm -- may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth." NIV
Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel
Isaiah 44:1 "Listen to me, O my servant Israel, O my chosen ones: 2 "The Lord who made you, who will help you, says, O servant of mine, don't be afraid. O Jerusalem, my chosen ones, don't be afraid. 3 For I will give you abundant water for your thirst and for your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit and my blessings on your children. 4 They shall thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank. 5'I am the Lord's,' they'll proudly say, or, "I am a Jew," and tattoo upon their hands the name of God or the honored name of Israel. TLB
Micah 2:12 "I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. 13 One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head." NIV

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Romans 9:24 Even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.
Romans 15:10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples. 12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.
Eph 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)- 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ ... 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. 15 By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace 16 And in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

5. Salvation
I Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy...25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls
Psalms 28:9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

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6. Don't Qualify for the fold
There are many examples of God (of Israel) actually rejecting Israel, that led to dogma in many churches that Christians have replaced Israel - "Replacement Theology." They fail to note, however, that God's anger at them is invariably followed by a BUT, reversing his rejection to honor his eternal covenant with the Jews to preserve them as a nation. A typical example of this phenomenon is the symbolic action Hosea had to perform in marrying a prostitute:
Hosea 1:2 The Lord said to Hosea, "Go and marry a girl who is a prostitute, so that some of her children will be born to you from other men. This will illustrate the way my people have been untrue to me, committing open adultery against me by worshiping other gods." 3 So Hosea married Gomer, daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the Lord said, "Name the child Jezreel, for in the Valley of Jezreel I am about to punish King Jehu's dynasty to avenge the murders he committed; in fact, I will put an end to Israel as an independent kingdom, breaking the power of the nation in the Valley of Jezreel." 6 Soon Gomer had another child-this one a daughter. And God said to Hosea, "Name her Lo-ruhamah (meaning 'No more mercy') for I will have no more mercy upon Israel, to forgive her again. 7 But I will have mercy on the tribe of Judah. I will personally free her from her enemies without any help from her armies or her weapons." 8 After Gomer had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she again conceived and this time gave birth to a son. 9 And God said, "Call him Lo-ammi (meaning 'Not mine'), for Israel is not mine and I am not her God. 10 "Yet the time will come when Israel shall prosper and become a great nation; in that day her people will be too numerous to count-like sand along a seashore! Then, instead of saying to them, 'You are not my people,' I will tell them, 'You are my sons, children of the Living God.' 11 Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite and have one leader; they will return from exile together; what a day that will be-the day when God will sow his people in the fertile soil of their own land again. Hosea 2:23 "At that time I will sow a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself! I will pity those who are 'not pitied,' and I will say to those who are 'not my people,' 'Now you are my people'; and they

will reply, 'You are our God!'" TLB

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Then we also have Paul saying: Rom 3:1 Then what's the use of being a Jew? Are there any special benefits for them from God? Is there any value in the Jewish circumcision ceremony? 2 Yes, being a Jew has many advantages.
First of all, God trusted them with his laws [so that they could know and do his will]. 3 True, some of them were unfaithful, but just because they broke their promises to God, does that mean God will break his promises? 4 Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is not. Do you remember what the book of Psalms says about this? That God's words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them. TLB

When it comes to "Not making it to heaven" Christians shiver at Jesus' ominous warning:
Luke 13:27 "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. NIV

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.1. A Nation/Israel Without a Shepherd
I Kings 22:17 Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.' (The Lord's message to ungodly Agab that he would be removed from being Israel's shepherd).
Ezekiel 34:5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.
Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

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.2.  God of Israel the true Shepherd
Psalms 23:1 {A psalm of David.} The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want
Psalms 80:1 {For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Lilies of the Covenant." Of Asaph. A psalm.} Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth.
Isaiah 40:9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!" 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. NIV
Jeremiah 31:10 "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
Zechariah 8:20 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come ... 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him. 23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'" An Oracle

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.4. Chosen Shepherds (kings) of Israel
II Samuel 5:2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'
Psalms 78:71 From tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.Isa 63:11 ..."Where is the One who brought Israel through the sea, with Moses as their shepherd? Where is the God who sent his Holy Spirit to be among his people? 12 Where is he whose mighty power divided the sea before them when Moses lifted up his hand, and established his reputation forever? TLB
Ezekiel 37:24 "'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.

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.6.  God's Criteria of Good Shepherd
Num 27:15 Moses said to the LORD, 16 "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd." 18 So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in." NIV

.7. A Good Shepherd
Jeremiah 49:19 "Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets to a rich pastureland, I will chase Edom from its land in an instant. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?
Amos 3:12 This is what the LORD says: "As a shepherd saves from the lion's mouth only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites be saved, those who sit in Samaria on the edge of their beds and in Damascus on their couches.
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep

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.8. Only one truth from One True Shepherd
Eccles 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd. The Lord will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations. New King James Version
Gal 1:7 Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

...in the description of the origins of Islam, even Mohammed's uncle suspected that when he, Mohammed, experienced his visitation he was possessed by a spirit and needed an exorcist. From “Babylon or Jerusalem” by Jan Willem van der Hoeven

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.10. False shepherd
John 10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice ...7 "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. NIV
Matt 24:24 For false Christs shall arise, and false prophets, and will do wonderful miracles so that if it were possible, even God's chosen ones would be deceived. 25 See, I have warned you. 26 "So if someone tells you the Messiah has returned and is out in the desert, don't bother to go and look. Or, that he is hiding at a certain place, don't believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall my coming be, when I, the Messiah, return. TLB
Revelation 2:2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.