The shepherd is a favorite Scriptural picture of the divine love and
care. In the Old Testament, the twenty-third Psalm gathers the whole wonderful
truth in exquisite lines, which are dear to young and old wherever the Bible is
known. Then in the New Testament, when our Lord would give His friends the
sweetest revealings of His heart toward them, and tell them what they are to Him
and what He would be to them. He says, "I am the Good Shepherd."
The Hebrew shepherd lives with his sheep. If they are
out in the storm he is with them. If they are exposed to danger, so is he. Just
so, Christ lives with His people. He enters into closest relations with
them.
The shepherd knows his sheep. He has a name for
each one and calls them all by their names. Just so, Christ knows each one of
His friends, has intimate personal knowledge of each one. He knows the best in
us and also the worst, our faults, our sins, our wanderings. Yet, knowing us as
we are, He loves us still and never wearies of us!
The shepherd is most gentle with his sheep. He does not
drive them but goes before them and leads them. When they need
rest on the way, he makes them lie down, and chooses for their resting-place, not
the dusty road but green pastures. He is especially kind to the
lambs, gathers them in his arms and carries them in his bosom. All this
is an exquisite picture of the gentleness of our Good Shepherd in His care of
His sheep. He is thoughtful toward the weak. He loves the lambs and
makes room for them on His bosom. Whatever the need is, there is something in
the heart of Christ which meets its craving and supplies its lack!
The shepherd defends his flock in all danger. Often he
had to risk his own safety, even his life, in protecting his sheep. Just
so, the Good Shepherd gives His life for His sheep!
Christ's sheep are absolutely safe in His keeping.
[J.R. Miller]
✞ ✞ ✞
Psalm 23:1 .... The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
John 10:11 ... I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:27-28 ... My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ❤
