- Our Loving Lord

Background Scripture: Psalm 23; John 10
Lesson Scripture: Psalm 23:1–6; John 10:11–15

Introduction

The illustration of Christ as a Shepherd clearly and appropriately represents God’s care and love for mankind in general, but it has a special significance to those who follow Him. In this imagery we glimpse the depth of our need of Him and the importance of His gentle, ever-present grace. The characteristics of a shepherd’s interaction with his sheep further reveals how our Lord nurtures, protects, sustains, and corrects us as His sheep.

The Scriptures present man as the special object of God’s affection and attention. Although the casual observer will likely not see the tenderness a shepherd employs in his daily interactions with his sheep, the sheep understand and respond. Likewise, only as we are close to the Lord can we fully appreciate His concern and diligent care for His people. In today’s lesson we will look at our loving Lord through the unique perspective of both the shepherd and his sheep.

Key Verse

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

In Psalm 23, David describes God as his Shepherd. The depiction of God as a shepherd over His people is common throughout the Bible. David was a shepherd and understood the special relationship that developed between shepherd and sheep. As he came to experience the Lord’s graciousness to His people, he recognized how similar it was to the pastoral care a good shepherd exercises over his flock. Sheep are a very dependent animal, and without the protective nurture of a shepherd, they would not survive long on their own. David, in his humility, was able to see the parallel in his own need of God.

The shepherd and his sheep are well acquainted. When Jesus said in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine,” He was speaking of a close relationship. He also said, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” (John 10:4). These words present a picture of fellowship and trust.

The sheep have learned through experience that the shepherd wants only what is best for them. He spends his day right in their midst, caring for the weak and sickly. All the while he is leading them to the green pastures. Because sheep are such timid animals, they find it nearly impossible to lie down if they are fearful or hungry. It is the shepherd that provides a place of rest with plentiful nourishment. He understands his sheep’s natural insecurities and leads them in a way where they can feel safe. It is here that the sheep learn to follow the shepherd and gain trust in his guidance.

“Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” The shepherd’s rod and staff are used for guiding the sheep and correcting their misbehaviors. When dangers lurked in the nearby shadows, David’s sheep experienced the security of their shepherd’s nearness. David, too, found comfort in God’s presence when he was in trouble. The amount of comfort God’s rod and staff bring us is determined by our level of trust and submission to Him.

The Good Shepherd does not wait for the lost or wounded sheep to come to Him; rather, He “goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray” (Matt. 18:12). God loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to search for those who had gone astray. He found us, carried us close to His heart back to His flock, and set us in His fold.

Practical Truths for Today

As sheep depend on their shepherd, so we are wholly dependent on God. The Christian recognizes that all he has comes from God. He supplies our need, keeps us safe, heals our infirmities, and leads us in His paths. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:10). God has provided for all our spiritual needs in Christ. In Him we find satisfaction and security. It is in His presence alone that we are at rest and experience true peace.

Sheep, being curious creatures, can wander away too far from the flock. Away from the shepherd and the rest of the flock, the danger of getting lost or becoming an easy prey of the wolves is much more likely. When Christians take the protection afforded by the Shepherd’s presence for granted and waver in their devotion to God, their humility dissipates and their obedience falters. The green pastures and still waters the Shepherd lovingly provides for us are no longer as attractive as distant meadows and streams. Why is it that we are so inclined to forget the goodness and mercy of God? We do not intend to stray far, but without God we are defenseless against a merciless enemy.

Isaiah likened mankind to wayward lambs when he wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isa. 53:6). Most of us can relate to this in a very real, personal way. We all tend to be independent and want some say in our own life. Like our first parents, when we start down that path to take our own way, we do not see how devious our nature is. “Sin will take you farther than you ever thought you’d go, cost you more than you ever thought you’d pay, and keep you longer than you ever thought you’d stay”; this proverb has proven to be true many times. Thank God for the Good Shepherd.

“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” (Matt. 18:12). James writes that “the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy,” and we see God demonstrating this throughout the Scriptures. In all His dealings He is faithful, kind, merciful, gentle, longsuffering, gracious, just, compassionate, and fatherly. Yet nothing compares to the love He expressed when He sent His own dear Son to give His life for us. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14–15). A vision of the great love of God draws us close to Him. Of our many needs, nothing exceeds our need to live close to Him. When man fell, his greatest loss was his close fellowship with the Lord. God’s purpose in redemption is to restore that fellowship.

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). When we are in fellowship with God, the Good Shepherd’s heart will be expressed in us as we fellowship with others. This is the secret to a spiritually healthy flock. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16–18).

Questions

1. Paul prayed that the Ephesians might comprehend the vastness of God’s love (Eph. 3:17–19). What are the benefits of understanding God’s love more fully?
2. How does the spirit of our present independent age affect how we love one another “in deed and in truth”?
3. What are the effects of the love of God that “is shed abroad in our hearts” (Rom. 5:5)?
4. When we hear of someone struggling, what does it mean to go into the mountains and seek him who has gone astray?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).