p. 682 | THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1900

THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK.

By John Norton Loughborough

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Heb. 13:20, 21.

There are many texts in the Scriptures in which the Lord beautifully compares his people to sheep, needing and receiving the tender care of the Great Shepherd; but we will notice in this connection a few only: “He is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” Ps. 95:7; 79:13; 100:3. “Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” 77:20. “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel; thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.” 80:1. “Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.” Micah 7:14.

Not only has the Lord called them sheep, but wandering and even lost sheep: “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.” Jer. 50:6. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him [Christ] the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6. “I have gone away like a lost sheep; seek thy servant.” Ps. 119:176. “Mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive. . . . Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” Jer. 13:20.

Some light is shed upon this question in Eze. 34:11–22, 31. The prophet says: “For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. . . . I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. . . . Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. . . . Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; therefore will I save my flock, and they shall be no more a prey. . . . And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.”

Of those accepting the loving care of the true Shepherd, the apostle Peter says, “Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25. Of the tender care of the Great Shepherd we may say, with the psalmist: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Ps. 23:1, 2. The manner in which he will do this is stated in these words: “Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his

work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isa. 40:10, 11. Again, “Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the islands afar off, and say, He that scattereth Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” Jer. 31:10.

Of the Lord’s dealing with his flock when oppressed, we read, “As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.” Amos 3:12. Though the Lord’s people may be surrounded by unbelief, and be subject to oppression, his word comes: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32.

Most strikingly is the relation of Christ to his flock set forth in John’s record of the Saviour’s teachings: “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” John 10:7–16.

Of the close relationship between Christ and his flock we read: “He calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice [“leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21] and a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:3–5.

In special Testimonies to the Lord’s people at this time we read: “Find the erring, discouraged ones by careful, diligent search, and bring them back to the fold. Christ has said, ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’ Strive to have a real connection with Christ, and become laborers together with God. ‘Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.’ Work with self hidden in Jesus, and the Lord will add to the church such as shall be saved. The great, Master Shepherd will give wisdom to the undershepherds, that they may become living, working agent for his use. Let them not seek to exalt themselves but to lift up Jesus; then they may go in and out and find pasture. . . .

“God can not commit his sheep and lambs to the care of a church who make it manifest that they have no aptitude or wisdom to care for the flock of his pasture. . . .

“Sinful and worthless creatures though we are, through a vital connection with Christ we yet may be renewed in knowledge and true holiness, and thus reflect the glory and image of our Creator and Redeemer, and be qualified to care for his sheep and lambs.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in Review and Herald, Oct. 24, 1893. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.