THE CHURCH SHEPHERDED BY CHRIST [1510]
[1510] See pp. 24–29.
Isaiah 49:9-10. They shall feed in the ways, &c.
“The comparison of God’s care to that of a shepherd was first used by Jacob (Genesis 49:24); then by Moses (Deuteronomy 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:12). From these passages the prophets borrowed the same figure (Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:12-13; Micah 7:14). In the New Testament Christ is compared to a shepherd (John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4; Hebrews 13:20). Travellers in the East and others record the peculiarly close and tender relationship of the Oriental shepherd to his flock.”
The Saviour is here represented under the image of a shepherd, who leads forth His flock in green pastures, &c.
I. The Divine Shepherd nourishes His flock. “They shall feed in the ways,” &c. A shepherd’s express engagement to feed, tend, keep. When one pasture was bare he would lead the sheep to another, and when the herbage was deficient he would cut down the tender shoots of trees for them to eat, and he would see that they had water to drink. In thus providing for them he frequently underwent long and severe labour. Jesus provides for all the wants of His people—temporal and spiritual. He opens before them unexpected sources of supply.
The Divine life must be fed, nourished, sustained. Our Good Shepherd’s provisions are plentiful, adapted, exhaustless—Himself His Word, His ordinances, &c. With Jehovah-Jesus for our shepherd, whose hand rests on all sources of supply, we can lack no temporal or spiritual good.
II. The Divine Shepherd protects His flock. “Neither shall the heat nor sun smite them.” They shall be sheltered from suffering like that of the intense heat of the burning sun reflected from the sandy wastes. The idea is, the Divine Shepherd will protect—shelter—His flock. This is the doctrine of the Bible, of the Old Testament as well as the New. “Whatever charge He gives His angels, He has not thereby discharged Himself, so that whether every saint has an angel for his guardian or no, we are sure he has God Himself for his guardian, and what higher consolation can we desire?” Those are well protected who have the Lord for their protector. He has manifested Himself as the protector of His people in all ages. Did He not deliver the stripling David out of the paw of the lion and the bear? (1 Samuel 17:34-36; &c.) Our good Shepherd’s protection is ever watchful, ever present, all-sufficient, never-failing (Psalms 121:3-8, &c.) Have not you experienced this protection? What He has been, and what He has done in the past, He will be, and do in the future. Let us trust in the protection of our Divine Shepherd, and rejoice.
III. The Divine Shepherd leads His flock. “He that hath mercy on them shall lead them.” With infallible knowledge and tender care, He goes before His people in all their journeyings. No longer by the mystic and majestic pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night does He lead them, but by the indications of His providence, by His Word, and by His Spirit, &c. He shall lead them, not drive them. “He”—what a leader! It is a long and perilous way, but He knows every step. Let us cheerfully follow His gracious guidance, and be assured “He leadeth us in right paths” (Psalms 23:3). “The ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them.”
IV. The Divine Shepherd refreshes His flock. “Even by the springs of water shall He guide them.” The faithful shepherd leads his flock beside cooling streams. When panting and breathless, he leads them to the “little green glen, with a quiet brooklet, and a moist lush herbage all along its course, while the ‘sunbeams, like swords’ are piercing everything beyond that hidden covert.” So Jesus leads His flock beside many a cooling spring. The spiritual life is liable to exhaustion. But our Divine Shepherd refreshes, vivifies, quickens the spirit when wearied and exhausted and troubled—worn down with toil, and conflict, and care. The blessings of the gospel are often compared to water; they are the rivers of soul-life.”
CONCLUSION.—
1. Is Jesus your Shepherd? Have you been convinced of your far and perilous wanderings? Have you heard and obeyed the Shepherd’s voice?
2. If you acknowledge Jesus as your Shepherd, then follow, love, obey, and trust Him.—Alfred Tucker.
THE IMPERFCTION OF EARTHLY BLESSINGS
Isaiah 49:10. Neither shall the heat nor sun smite them, &c.
One of the blessings promised to Christ’s people in the latter days. The promise is fulfilled now to those who depart hence believing in Him. This promise reminds us—
I. That the best things when bestowed in excess become great evils. What a glorious gift to man is the sun! How essential is its heat to human life and happiness! Yet how oppressive are the heats of summer! With what terrible blows the sun sometimes smites men! Let us remember that the measure of a thing is as important as its kind. “Moderation in all things,” is the wise man’s motto. How necessary to remember it in regard to food, sleep, work, recreation; in the household, in regard to kindness and to severity, &c.
II. That all earthly blessings have their drawbacks. The heats of summer are great blessings; without them how poor would the harvest be in the autumn! Yet what a strain they often are on human strength! How fatal they often are to human life! Noteworthy that it can be said as a promise, “Neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them.” So with other things; “every rose has its thorn.” Wealth, its moral dangers (H. E. I. 4358–3364, 4389–4399, and social inconveniences (H. E. I. 4381, 4387, 4388). Learning; how dearly it is often purchased (H. E. I. 3089). Domestic happiness; what possibilities of profound sorrow are bound up with it. “Every possession renders us capable of loss.” Long life; how much there is in connection with old age that is undesirable.
III. That in heaven we shall have all the blessings without any of the drawbacks (H. E. I. 2721–2727).
Some practical lessons:—
1. Let us not grumble at the natural and providential drawbacks of our earthly lot. Let us remember that, so to speak, they are the prices of the blessings, and that if we are called to endure the drawbacks the blessings will not be withheld. Many men grumble that they have to pay an income-tax, and forget to thank God that they have an income. If they had not that, the tax-gatherer would never knock at their doors. So with the drawbacks of other blessings. Murmuring is unwise and wicked.
2. When the conditions of our earthly life press on us most heavily, let us comfort ourselves by the remembrance of the perfect life towards which we are hastening. The prisoner is sustained by the knowledge that the hour of his liberation is drawing nigh; the mariner, by the fact that every gale blows him nearer to the “desired haven.” It is a good thing to walk now by faith and hope in that land where neither the heat nor the sun shall smite us (H. E. I. 216–218, 2766–2770).
3. If the future life for God’s people will be all perfection without abatement, how little should they dread that event which will introduce them to it! Are we prepared for that wonderful transition which we call death? If so, why should we fear it? If we are not prepared for it, how shall we excuse ourselves for the insane unpreparedness in which we are living? Prepare for it, and the: all the great and precious promises concerning the future life will be promises made to you, and that event of which the very name has been disagreeable to you will be the beginning of inconceivable joy (H. E. I. 1623–1635; P. D. 667, 694, 745).