p. 15 | The Shepherd of Love

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 26, 1911

The Shepherd of Love

THE Shepherd looked out from the heavenly fold To the mountains far away, And he said: “I must leave the ninety and nine, The lambs of the flock that are always mine, And go seek the one that's astray; For the wolf is fierce, and the nights are cold, And my lamb can not find its way back to the fold.”

Then the sandals of peace on his feet he bound, And he took the staff of prayer, And his smile was full of pardon and grace, And the light of heaven was in his face, And a crown was set in his hair; But ah! dear child, ’twas a crown of thorn, And his hands and his feet were all bleeding and torn.

Yet he toiled all day over rock and stone, To seek for the erring one, Till he came to the garden of bitter pain, Where the blood-sweat dropped from his brow like rain As the night of wrath came on; For he knew that the river of death would be Close, close by the side of Gethsemane.

But the Shepherd of love went on his way, And passed through the flood so cold, Though the stream ran deep, and the waves rolled high; For beyond he could hear the lost lamb’s cry, And brought it back to the fold! And thou, dear one, art the lamb he did love; ’Twas for thee the good Shepherd came from above.

— Selected.