Gracious God, whose unmerited grace has molded and moved me to act my faith throughout this day, receive my heartfelt thanks and grant me a night of peaceful rest. Merciful God, take my life this night into your loving care. Give me the benediction only you can give, so that I may rest in your peace. Amen.
96 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord‘s hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
9 Go on up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
“Like a shepherd he feeds his flock” (Isaiah 40:11)
How do you imagine Jesus would look as the “good shepherd” of his flock? We’ve all seen paintings of a sweet Jesus cuddling a defenseless lamb. Today’ passage from Isaiah, too, depicts the shepherd as tender and solicitous. “In his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom” (Isaiah 40:11). Who wouldn’t want to be comforted by such a shepherd?
However, the prophet is also aware that the term “shepherds” refers to the kings appointed to rule God’s people. God has no patience with weak, vacillating leaders who quake before their enemies and hasten to make ill-fated military alliances instead of trusting God. His ideal shepherd “comes with power” and “rules by his strong arm” (Isaiah 40:10). Like David, the shepherd-king, he braves danger to defend his people against predators, especially the spiritual threats posed by the devil, our own fallen nature, or the darkened philosophies in the world.
Likewise, Jesus, our Shepherd, doesn’t wait anxiously for straying sheep to return. Rather, he arms himself and sets out in search of them. Sometimes his kindness feels like discipline as he cuts the lamb loose, dresses its wounds, and curbs its propensity to wander. But it is still the kindest thing he could ever do.
When we think of Jesus as our Shepherd, it is helpful to admit that we are weak sinners in need of rescuing. But this shouldn’t be an excuse for passivity. Jesus invites us to work with him in restoring a world where he is Lord. He wants us to straighten roads, fill in valleys, level mountains, and smooth rough ground so that more and more people can come to him (Isaiah 40:3-4).
So join the Shepherd’s search party. Keep your eyes on him as you seek to bring people into contact with him. Be sure to draw on his strength, his gentleness, and his patience – because you will need it. And remember: not only are you called to be patient with people but also with the Shepherd, who takes no shortcuts. He has a perfect plan, and he will accomplish it in his own time.
Thank you, Jesus, for seeking me when I stray from the path. Teach me how to shepherd those you have entrusted to my care. Amen.
Andy
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