Skip to main content

Chief Shepherd


And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (I Peter 5:4)

CHIEF SHEPHERD
The first thing that come to mind this morning are Hannah Hurnard's Hind's Feet On High Places. It's an allegory in which the Chief Shepherd has a prominent role. If you haven't read it, you should. The second thing that comes to mind is the question of why the Chief Shepherd would make sheep into shepherds. I have known (or known of) some great pastors and some who weren't so great. Wouldn't it have been wiser to give us shepherds who would protect us from the wolves, lions, bears and dragons out there? Sheep just really aren't equipped for that sort of thing.
          Then again, the Chief Shepherd, who was not a man, became a man. He lived a human life and according to Hebrews, that means that He can and does understand our weaknesses. His goal apparently wasn't to do for us so much as to do with us. If the shepherds He chooses weren't human, they could not understand our weaknesses. Paul was told that it was in his weaknesses that God's power is made perfect (II Corinthians 12:9.) God gives grace to the "sheepish" shepherds and to us so that His power again is made to be just what we need.
          And what of the wolves, lions, bears and dragons out there? Don't we need shepherds who are more equal to the predators we face? I suspect that the answer to that question is that we are in far more danger from ourselves and from other humans than we are from Satan's pack or pride. They don't need to do a thing for us to make a mess of our lives and world. The Chief Shepherd is wise, and knows that sheep who know His voice are more often needed by the rest of His flock than herd dogs. That doesn't mean we aren't also guarded by angels - just that the sheepish shepherds are more often needed.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more