THIS picture is a parable. Let us look well into it. The first thing that strikes us is, this shepherd has his flock for his all, and this flock has the shepherd for its all. There is nothing attractive in the surroundings, no invitations to stray from the guiding shepherd. Night is coming on, the way grows dark. The flock is in the hands of the shepherd, for sheep are helpless in themselves. But the shepherd is armed. He is their protector. He goes before them. He is able, he is determined to preserve them all. And the growing shades of evening tell us home is near, and this the shepherd knows, for he makes music to cheer his own heart on the way and to soothe the flock in the sense of security.
Now with reverence we can say, Our Shepherd has His sheep for His all. He "sold all that He had" for the flock. His sheep are His treasure "of great price." “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)). So deep, so great was His love for His sheep, that Jesus Himself says for us to hear, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again (ver. 17). The care of the flock is His great burden of love, never to be laid aside, for "having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end." (John 13:11Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1).)
The picture presents to us the flock having in the shepherd its all. No other guide, or protector, no other hope. Take away from the scene the figure of the shepherd, and a few wandering sheep upon a lonely waste, with night deepening around them, is all you have! Let us seek to make Jesus our All. He is our Guide. He will never leave us, nor forsake us; He is our Preserver; He is our Hope.
In the East the shepherd goes before his flock armed.
Our picture presents to us a modern Eastern shepherd, with a firearm in addition to ancient weapons. But whether the weapon be the sling and the stone, or the mace, we can say with David, “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." Our Shepherd goes before His sheep, and if the foe would snatch us from His hand, he must first overcome our Shepherd, who bears not only the name of love—" the good Shepherd,"—but the name of power—" the great Shepherd " (Heb. 13:2020Now 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, (Hebrews 13:20)). He has earned this name, for He has overcome death and him that had the power of it. He is risen from the dead, and all power in heaven and on earth is given to Him.
The day is nearly ended. The shades of night already fill the valleys and the thick places in the woods. Some fear the coming darkness. What will soon take place, say they, on this earth? But let the sheep of Jesus keep their eye upon their Shepherd, and keep their feet close to His steps. "My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me." Whither He leads let us follow. And whither does He lead? Homewards, ever homewards. The darkness we may dread declares that home is near. Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Let the anxious and the tried hush their fears for a moment, and they shall hear sweet words of life and peace, for the Shepherd lifts His voice, He rejoices over His sheep.
The picture presents to us the shepherd leading his flock, and making music as he goes. The sheep no doubt catch the spirit that pervades the mind of their guide. A horse or a dog readily understands whether the sense of fear or rest fills its master's heart, and sheep trained, as in the East, to constant attendance on the shepherd's steps, would, we can well believe, do the same. The shepherd's pipes would, therefore, be to them a soothing sound, an intimation that all is well.
The idea of pleasant music, of sweet sounds, or of song, when nearing home, on a darksome way, is cheery and bright. Let us take it for ourselves. The end is near, the way is dark, but our Mighty Shepherd rejoices, for in a little while and all for whom He died will be with Him where He is. No more a wilderness way, no alarms, no murmurings, no backslidings, but all at home for ever with Jesus the Lord.