He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the
lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall
gently lead those that are with young.--Isaiah xl. 11.
The Messiah is here, and in several other parts of the old
Testament, held forth to our view under the character of a shepherd.
He is called, "Jehovah's shepherd," and to his care is committed
the safeguard of God's flock. He is described as "seeking out and
delivering his sheep from all places where they have been scattered,
in the cloudy and dark day." He is said to "seek that which was
lost," and to "bring again that which was driven away;" "to bind up
that which was broken; to strengthen that which was sick; to gather
the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom;" "to make them
lie down in green pastures, and lead them forth beside the still
waters;" in short, to him are attributed all the kind offices of a
"good shepherd." It will not be difficult to recognise Jesus under
this description. On examining the New Testament, we find in it an
exact counterpart of this character. We hear Jesus describe himself
as "the true shepherd," who "calleth his sheep by name, and leadeth
them out, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice; but
a stranger will they not follow, for they know not the voice of
strangers;" "he knoweth his sheep, and is known of them, and they go
in and out, and find pasture." His watchfulness and power are such,
that he will not suffer any, either by surprise or force, to pluck
them out of his hands;[54] nor will he forsake them in the hour of
danger; "he fleeth not, because he is not an hireling;" and he will
eventually collect both the Gentile and Jewish flocks together, that
there may "be one fold,[55] under one shepherd." Nor shall one of
the least of the flock be missing; all "his sheep must pass again
under the hands of him that telleth them;" even the "good shepherd
who has laid down his life for the sheep;" and now liveth to watch
over, defend, guide, and supply the wants of his flock, from whom he
will withhold no "manner of thing that is good."
[54] John x. 28, 29.
[55] John x. 16.
Certain it is, this "Chief Shepherd" will punish[56] the unfaithful
hirelings "who feed themselves, but not their flocks;" "who have not
strengthened the diseased, healed the sick, neither have bound up
that which was broken, neither brought again that which was driven
away, nor sought that which was lost; but with force and cruelty
have ruled them." Therefore, O ye shepherds! hear the word of the
Lord; thus saith the Lord God, "Behold I am against the shepherds,
and will require my flock at their hands, and cause them to cease
from feeding the flock; neither shall they feed themselves any more."
[56] Ezek. xxxiv. 10.