There is something exceedingly sweet and attractive in the teaching of the word of God, where the figure of a shepherd is used, and it would be difficult to find a scripture that has given more comfort to the children of God than Psa. 23, where the sheep throughout is the speaker—in the first three verses speaking about the Shepherd and His gracious ways; and in the fourth and fifth verses speaking to Him.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” This is no empty boast, but a most blessed certainty, for possessing the Lord as a shepherd secures everything. As a result of that relationship there is satisfaction, peace, divine guidance, restoration of soul, assurance of protection from all evil, comfort in the most trying path; provision worthy of the Giver, an over-running cup, with goodness and mercy following all one’s earthly days; and finally a dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. Who can estimate the value of these grand and righteously secured privileges? How empty are all the pleasures of the worldling in comparison! how transient are his joys! how unsatisfying at best; yea, the world itself would be no gain to one going into a lost eternity. In Isa. 40 we get something of the greatness and glory and tenderness of the Shepherd of the believer’s soul (1 Peter 2:2525For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25)). All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted to Him less than nothing and vanity; they are as a drop of a bucket, and as the small dust of the balance; but we are told that “he shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom.”
What a combination of almightiness of power and infinite tenderness. Oh! what mercy, that poor sinful, helpless man should be so dealt with. In this scripture it is the Holy Spirit, through the prophet, speaking of the Lord; but in John 10 it is the Lord speaking of Himself as the Shepherd, and also of His sheep. He says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” David, the shepherd lad, keeping his father’s sheep in the wilderness of Bethlehem, was faithful to his trust, and for the sake of a lamb put his life in jeopardy. Let us hear what he says (1 Sam. 17:3434And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: (1 Samuel 17:34)), “David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock; and I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me I caught him by his beard and smote him and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear.” Surely, this is given by the Spirit of God as a type of Him who is the good Shepherd. But proof as it is of David’s extraordinary prowess and devotedness, how very faintly it shadows forth what the good Shepherd went through to save the sheep that was lost.
Truly-
“None of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.”
Wonderful love! wonderful love! that led One so great, so glorious, to undertake and accomplish the sinner’s salvation. Speaking of His sheep He says, “I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.” Oh! what an infinite gain to be one of His sheep, possessing life eternal with such pledged security. Does this catch the eye of one who desires to be thus blest? Then take heart and listen to what the Lord Jesus says in the same chapter, “I am the door; by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” “I am the door,” shuts us up to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation; the one way of getting it, reminding us of Peter’s weighty words in Acts 4, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” The Lord proposes one condition, be it Pharisee or publican, be it king or peasant, be it old or young, “By me if any man enter in.” Nothing could be simpler, nothing more definite; no one ever acting on that word was denied admission to salvation, liberty and satisfaction, which are the three eternal blessings held out in grace and love to all who will trust Him. “I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” While the door is open, enter while you may, for when once the Master of the house is risen up and shut to the door, your last opportunity will have gone forever.
J. A. T.