And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
The verse declares that God's people are men, human beings in the full sense, who belong to Him as the flock of His pasture, and that He Himself is present with them as their God. The house of Israel are His pasture flock and His people, and the Lord their God is with them. Christ is the divine Shepherd of that flock, who personally knows His people wherever they are scattered throughout the world, just as an earthly shepherd knows his own sheep. He knows each person individually and by name, and cares for each as if that person were the only one for whom He died.
In its setting at the close of the covenant of peace, the verse carries God's promise to act Himself as Shepherd to His flock and to save them so they are no more a prey. He will search for them, deliver them, and feed them; He will seek the lost, bring back the driven away, bind up the broken and injured, strengthen the sick, and judge among the flock. That shepherding brings blessing and provision, so they are no longer left hungry or shamed. He makes them and the places round about His hill a blessing, and causes showers of blessing to come down in season, which all nature obeys as a servant obeys his master. The tree of the field yields its fruit and the earth yields its increase, He breaks the bands of their yoke and delivers them from oppressors who served themselves of them, they dwell safe in their land without fear, no more a prey to the heathen nor devoured by beasts, and He raises up for them a plant of renown so they are no more consumed with hunger nor bear the shame of the heathen, and by this they know that the Lord their God is with them.
The verse claims the long-oppressed and scattered colored people of the South in the cloudy and dark day of ignorance and bondage as men, in the full dignity of God-given manhood and womanhood. To them God promises to make a covenant of peace, to make them a blessing, and to send the showers of blessing in season. Through work that brings souls from darkness into light, the desert places of the South are to become as the garden of God. The close of the covenant is most precious encouragement of pardoning mercy, showing the gospel as salvation through the tender mercies of God. Its most striking feature is the exceeding richness of pardon to the sinner if he repents and turns from his sin, secured by Christ's sacrifice satisfying the demands of the law for every repentant believing sinner, while perfect obedience is the condition of life under the new covenant.
In connection with Isaiah 58, the verse belongs to the description of God's flock as entrusted to shepherds who must feed them with truth and care for them faithfully. Shepherds who reject God's word and trample on His law fail their charge to the flock. The instruction of Ezekiel 33 and 34, including this verse, is the truth of God and not a pleasing fable, speaking to those living in the last days. It must be read carefully and studied with the utmost stretch of understanding to know what it means for that time, so that God's people guard against being deceived and avoid acting the part of unfaithful shepherds. Its force is to make straight paths for the feet, and let the lame be turned out of the way.
The verse declares that God's people are men, human beings in the full sense, who belong to Him as the flock of His pasture, and that He Himself is present with them as their God. The house of Israel are His pasture flock and His people, and the Lord their God is with them. Christ is the divine Shepherd of that flock, who personally knows His people wherever they are scattered throughout the world, just as an earthly shepherd knows his own sheep. He knows each person individually and by name, and cares for each as if that person were the only one for whom He died.
In its setting at the close of the covenant of peace, the verse carries God's promise to act Himself as Shepherd to His flock and to save them so they are no more a prey. He will search for them, deliver them, and feed them; He will seek the lost, bring back the driven away, bind up the broken and injured, strengthen the sick, and judge among the flock. That shepherding brings blessing and provision, so they are no longer left hungry or shamed. He makes them and the places round about His hill a blessing, and causes showers of blessing to come down in season, which all nature obeys as a servant obeys his master. The tree of the field yields its fruit and the earth yields its increase, He breaks the bands of their yoke and delivers them from oppressors who served themselves of them, they dwell safe in their land without fear, no more a prey to the heathen nor devoured by beasts, and He raises up for them a plant of renown so they are no more consumed with hunger nor bear the shame of the heathen, and by this they know that the Lord their God is with them.
The verse claims the long-oppressed and scattered colored people of the South in the cloudy and dark day of ignorance and bondage as men, in the full dignity of God-given manhood and womanhood. To them God promises to make a covenant of peace, to make them a blessing, and to send the showers of blessing in season. Through work that brings souls from darkness into light, the desert places of the South are to become as the garden of God. The close of the covenant is most precious encouragement of pardoning mercy, showing the gospel as salvation through the tender mercies of God. Its most striking feature is the exceeding richness of pardon to the sinner if he repents and turns from his sin, secured by Christ's sacrifice satisfying the demands of the law for every repentant believing sinner, while perfect obedience is the condition of life under the new covenant.
In connection with Isaiah 58, the verse belongs to the description of God's flock as entrusted to shepherds who must feed them with truth and care for them faithfully. Shepherds who reject God's word and trample on His law fail their charge to the flock. The instruction of Ezekiel 33 and 34, including this verse, is the truth of God and not a pleasing fable, speaking to those living in the last days. It must be read carefully and studied with the utmost stretch of understanding to know what it means for that time, so that God's people guard against being deceived and avoid acting the part of unfaithful shepherds. Its force is to make straight paths for the feet, and let the lame be turned out of the way.