“He leads me beside still waters…; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2,3
Dear Ones:
It was Fannie Crosby, blind from a very early age, who wrote the hymn: All The Way My Savior Leads Me.” In that hymn, she wrote: “All the way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide?” Here is a woman who proved the tender mercies of God, especially as they were revealed by the Lord’s gentle, and gracious leading in her life. Her use of the word, “ALL,” is very significant, as her vision of God’s sovereign power and love eclipsed, and surrounded, the entirety of her existence. This truth she believed and lived by. But perhaps the question that she asks most reveals the depth of trust that she had in Christ: “Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide?” She had proven the merciful leading of God all through her life, and the present moment was no exception. That guidance was accompanied, and confirmed, by “…heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him (Christ) to dwell.” In all, and every circumstance, her attitude of faith was the same: “For I KNOW whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth ALL things well.” There was no “chance” in Crosby’s life, only the certainty that, as she had committed her all to Christ, He had taken it in hand, kept His word to guide, to lead, in all things at all times, even though she might not recognize or see it. That which was the confirmation to her heart of the Lord’s “…working all things for good,…” was His peace, a heavenly peace and affirmation of His presence, power, and love.
It was David, many years previously, who wrote in Psalm 23 concerning the great Shepherd: “He leads me beside still waters.” (v.2) David, in speaking of himself, sees himself to be a sheep, one very helpless, and so limited. His faith is certainly not in himself to guide his life. It is only in the Shepherd, as He possesses all power and authority to provide for, and protect, the sheep. But that which is to be the comfort to this “sheep’s” heart is the certainty that the Shepherd loves the sheep, and is totally committed to him. Christ Himself declares that He is the GOOD Shepherd, there being nothing but goodness in Him. With regard to those sheep that are His, He declares that He speaks to the sheep, “…who hear His voice.” (Jn. 10:3) He goes on to say that He is that one who “…gives His life for the sheep,” giving to them Life more abundant. He is known by His sheep, because He chooses to reveal Himself to the sheep. There is a promise associated with belonging to Christ as His sheep: “….I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” (10:28) It is because of this true Shepherd’s commitment to His sheep, that His heart is revealed by the sacrifice of Himself for the sheep. In addition to this, in a very practical way, this true, good Shepherd is the one who will leave the ninety and nine in the fold, protected, and go forth into the mountains alone to seek one that is lost. Herein is revealed the love, and devotion, of the Shepherd for His sheep. It is at this point that we come back to Fannie Crosby’s question that she asks in her hymn: “Can I doubt His tender mercy, who through life has been my guide?”
If Christ, as the good and great Shepherd, was willing to give His life for the sheep, is He not willing to lead the sheep today? How will He do this? It will be in answer to faith, trusting Him to lead. The sheep then receives grace to follow.
Dear Father, Give us grace to commit ALL to Thee, the Lord Jesus being our Sovereign Shepherd, who has died and who will lead us by quiet waters, in His righteousness, for Thy name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad