sermons by IVOR POWELL

ISAIAH, WHO DESCRIBED A DIVINE SHEPHERD

"Behold, the Lord GOD... 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 40:10-11).

The ancient prophets often referred to the Lord as "the Shepherd,

a description that was easily understood by the Hebrews who had

always raised sheep (Gen. 46:31 - 47:3). Joseph was aware that

shepherds were disliked by the Egyptians and was careful to avoid

the displeasure of Pharaoh. When David contemplated accepting

the challenge of Goliath, he informed Saul of exploits performed

during his stay with the sheep on the hills of Bethlehem (see 1 Sam.

17:34-35). Centuries later, when the Savior addressed His followers,

He said, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his

life for the sheep" (see John 10:11). Isaiah's statement supplied

three wonderful word pictures.

The Shepherd Leading... A Great Provision

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd." Throughout the Middle

East shepherds live with their sheep; they are never separated. The

flock follows the leader and each day is led to places where pasture

is available. He knows them individually, and they respond to his

voice. Isaiah's conception of the loving kindness of the Lord was

unsurpassed. Life could resemble a wilderness where sometimes

sustenance was hard to find. It was the shepherd's duty to seek

green pasture and still waters. The animals were never required to

find grass, but they were expected to follow their guide. The Lord

knew the terrain, and was an expert at finding pasture for His people.

The Shepherd ....... A Gracious Protection

"He shall carry the lambs with his a~" When newborn lambs

could not travel as quickly as the rest of the flock, the shepherd lifted

and cradled them in his arms. If they became exhausted with travel,

he held them close to his heart. This supplied urgently needed protection.

Every person who heard Isaiah's message could instantly visualized

the scene. The inference that the Creator of the universe could be

as tender as a boy who loved the lambs and led the flock was something

difficult to comprehend The Lord was not exclusively the stem

and terrifying God whose presence made Mount Sinai tremble. Neither 

was He the devouring fire which threatened the existence of

rebellious sinners. He was a God filled with compassion, a Heavenly

Father who cared for His people. Perfect love for Him banished fear.

The folk who trusted Him were never hungry!

The Shepherd Loving... A Glorious Perception

"And shall gently lead those that are with young." Sheep with

special needs required added attention. Ewes giving suck to their

offspring can become easy prey for predators. Wise shepherds gave

instant attention to the mother sheep who in helping their young

increased their own danger. During the lambing season in Western

Australia, I often accompanied my host at midnight when the foxes

tried to kill defenseless ewes. I did not realize until then the constant

danger of sheep when they gave birth. That the Lord Jesus Christ

should identify Himself as the Good Shepherd suggested that all the

tendencies of a faithful shepherd would be evident in His care for

men and women. His elderly sheep would neither be forsaken nor

abandoned.

This text resembles the meat in a sandwich; it is between two

expressions of the amazing power of the Lord. Isaiah said in verse

10, "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm

shall rule for him Then in verse 12, the prophet asked a very

important question, "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow

of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended

the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in

scales, and the hills in a balance?" The emphasis was upon the

strong arm of the Almighty. God held the oceans in the palm of His

hand; His reach encompassed the heavens, and with ease He lifted

mountains and weighed them as in a scales. Even the greatest things

in creation were as toys in the Lord's hand. Between these two

statements Isaiah mentioned the ministry of the divine Shepherd.

The hand that held mountains would hold and protect the lambs.

That which held the seas controlled every wave of circumstance

which threatened the welfare of God's sheep. George C. Stebbins

wrote:

O soul tossed on the billows

Afar from a friendly land,

Look up to Him who holds thee

"The the hollow of His hand."