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CHRIST’S CARE FOR HIS SHEEP
THE holy Psalmist, speaking of Jehovah’s care of him, says, “The Lord is my Shepherd:” and then, from the union of the Godhead with the pastoral office, he infers, “Therefore I shall not want [Note: Psa_23:1.].” The same incomprehensible union is mentioned by the prophet in the passage before us. The heralds that proclaimed the advent of the Messiah were commanded to draw the attention of men to them in these words, “Behold your God!” The person thus announced, is further described in the words preceding our text; “Behold! the Lord God will come:” and then it is added, “he shall feed his flock like a shepherd.” Now when it is considered how prone the Israelites were to idolatry, it cannot be conceived that the prophet should speak of the Messiah in such exalted terms, if they did not properly belong to him. But the prophets generally, and Isaiah in particular, are very full and explicit in declaring, that Jehovah was to become incarnate, and by the sacrifice of himself to redeem and save a ruined world. It is not however of his person that we now propose to speak, but of his office; that being the particular point to which my text refers: yet it would be improper to pass over such a strong testimony to the divinity of our blessed Lord, because, in the judgment of all, but more especially of Jews, it must have the effect of silencing every doubt upon that important subject. And it adds no little interest to the description here given of him, when we know, that He who so condescends to minister as a Shepherd to the least and meanest of his flock, is the Most High God: according as it is written, “To us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and his name shall be called, The Mighty God [Note: Isa_9:6.].”
The words which form the ground-work of our discourse, will lead me to set before you,
I. A general view of our Lord as a Shepherd—
The character of a shepherd is frequently assigned to our blessed Lord, in the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament [Note: Eze_37:24. Zec_13:7. Heb_13:20. 1Pe_5:4.]: and every duty pertaining to that office is executed by him:—
1. He gathers them to his fold—
[They are “wandering upon the dark mountains, in a cloudy and dark day [Note: Eze_34:6.];” “every one going in his own way [Note: Isa_53:6.],” and “after the imaginations of his own heart [Note: Jer_23:17.]” — — — The paths of all, though differing from each other according as the age, the inclinations, and the diversified temptations of the different individuals may lead them — — — all agree in this, that they are far distant from the ways of God’s commandments [Note: Rom_3:11-12.]. But “he searches for them, and seeks them out:” he follows them by the preaching of his word, by the dispensations of his providence, by the mighty working of his Spirit; and, having found them, “he apprehends them” by his pastoral crook [Note: Php_3:12.], and “makes them willing” to return with him [Note: Psa_110:3.], and “carries them home upon his shoulders rejoicing [Note: Luk_15:5-6.]”— — —]
2. He provides for their wants—
[O! how sweet are the pastures into which he leads them [Note: Eze_34:14.]! Who can express the delight which a converted soul experiences in feeding upon the promises, “the exceeding great and precious promises” of his God? — — — In comparison of the food provided for the sheep of Christ, all else is but as “husks on which the swine subsist [Note: Luk_15:16. Isa_55:2.].” This is set forth in Scripture under the image of a luxurious feast [Note: Isa_24:6.]: and verily it is “a feast of fat things” to all the saints; a feast, of which even the angels themselves might account it a privilege to partake [Note: Psa_78:25.] — — —]
3. He affords them his effectual protection—
[Weak as they are, and beset with many enemies, they are preserved in perfect safety [Note: 1Pe_1:5.] — — — He who laid down his life for them, will suffer “none to pluck them out of his hand [Note: Joh_10:11; Joh_10:28.]” — — — “They lie down beside the still waters [Note: Psa_23:2.],” which are a just emblem of the tranquillity of their own souls — — — “They are kept in perfect peace, because they trust in him [Note: Isa_26:3.].”]
4. He administers to them according to their diversified necessities—
[Amongst them there will be some who are sick, or diseased, or injured by some misfortune: but he knows all their particular cases, and imparts to them the relief which they severally need; “bringing buck those which have been driven away, binding up that which has been broken, and strengthening that which is sick [Note: Eze_34:16.]”— — — and never intermitting his care of them, till he has brought them to his fold above [Note: Psa_23:5-6.]— — —]
But our text requires us to take,
II. A more particular view of him as ministering to the weak and needy—
Let us notice then in a more especial manner,
1. His tenderness to the weak—
[The lambs which have been but recently brought forth, may be supposed incapable of proceeding with the flock to any distant pasture. But these “he will gather with his arms, and carry in his bosom.” “He will not despise the day of small things [Note: Zec_4:10.].” There is not one in all his flock so weak, but he will pay the most minute attention to its necessities. He who gave so particular a charge to Peter to “feed his lambs,” and required this of him as a necessary proof of his love [Note: Joh_21:15.], will not himself neglect his lambs; but rather will augment his tender assiduities in proportion as the weakness of the lamb calls for more peculiar care: he will even take it up, and “carry it in his bosom.” In what an endearing view does this place the character of our blessed Lord! — — — How sweetly encouraging is this consideration to those who feel their weakness, and are ready to despond because of it! — — — Let us remember, that when his disciples would have kept persons from troubling him with their little children, he reproved them, and said, “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven [Note: Mar_10:14.].” Whether therefore you be children in respect of your natural or spiritual birth, fail not to come to him, assured, that he will bear with your infirmities, and “perfect his own strength in your weakness [Note: 2Co_12:9.]” — — —]
2. His compassion to the afflicted—
[He will have respect to the state of his flock, even as Jacob had, who “would not overdrive them one day, lest they should all die [Note: Gen_33:13-14.].” So our blessed Lord “will gently lead that which is with young.” There are amongst his people many who are weary and heavy-laden with a sense of sin, and bowed down greatly by reason of the difficulties of their way. But to the former he sends a special invitation, with an assured promise of rest [Note: Mat_11:28.]: and to the latter he authorizes us to declare, that “he will raise them up [Note: Psa_146:8.].” In truth, he is pre-eminently distinguished by this, that “he will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax; but will bring forth judgment unto victory [Note: Mat_12:20.]. Consider what is implied in these metaphors: a bruised reed is, according to human appearance, incapable of ever sending forth a melodious sound; and smoking flax has, as it were, but a hidden spark of fire, whilst it is sending forth whole clouds of corruption: yet will Christ fan the expiring spark to a flame, and attune the reed to send forth the most heavenly strains. Let none then despond, however destitute they may be of any thing to encourage them from within; but let them “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might [Note: Eph_6:10.]” — — —]
Let me now add a few words,
1. In commendation of this good Shepherd—
[Whence is it that all do not put themselves under his care? Is there any want of love, or tenderness, or power in him? God frequently, by his prophets, called on his rebellious people to testify against him, and to say, whether there had been any want of kindness or care in him: “O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me [Note: Mic_6:3. Jer_2:5; Jer_2:31.].” “What could I have done more for my people than I have done [Note: Isa_5:4.]?” So do I now, in the name of this good Shepherd, call upon you all this day, to bear, if you can, your testimony against him. Whom did he ever neglect or despise? Whom that sought him did he ever refuse to receive? Whom that trusted in him, did he ever omit to supply according to his necessities? — — — If then no complaint ever was, or could be made against him from the world, let every heart appreciate his excellency, and every soul commit itself to its care — — — [Note: If this were a subject for an Ordination or Visitation Sermon, the Clergy should be urged to follow the example of this good Shepherd.]]
2. For the augmentation and encouragement of his flock—
[You who have to this hour been going astray, and walking in the way of your own hearts, reflect upon your guilt and danger, and “return now without delay to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls [Note: 1Pe_2:25.]” — — — As employed by him, I come now to search you out, and to bring you home to his fold [Note: Eph_4:11. Mar_16:15. Jer_23:4.] — — — O think, how delightful it will be to “hear his voice calling every one of you by name [Note: Joh_10:3.],” and “going in and out with you” as long as you shall remain in this dreary wilderness [Note: Joh_10:9.], and then performing the same office for you in the realms of bliss [Note: Rev_7:17.]; “O listen not to the voice of strangers” — — — but, follow him — — — that you may be one fold under one Shepherd for ever and ever [Note: Joh_10:5; Joh_10:9; Joh_10:16.].]