Dear Ones:
The problem is NOT with the Great Shepherd. It is with the sheep. It has been said that in the 23rd Psalm, the great discovery by David was not that there was a Shepherd, but that he was a sheep. Coming to grips with what this means is essential if the great Shepherd of our souls can be to us all that He desires to be.
The first thing that a “sheep” has to come to grips with is its helplessness. O. Hallesby, in his classic book on prayer, begins his work by declaring that the first condition of true prayer is to realize one’s helplessness. An example of this is given to us in the writings of Jeremiah when he said, “O Lord, I know that the way of man is NOT in himself: it is NOT in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jer. 10:23) This is further illustrated by Solomon’s declaration, “…Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean NOT unto thine own understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him, and HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.” (Prov. 3:5-6) The sheep is not capable in and of himself to find his way, the course for his life that was intended by God, unless Christ as the Shepherd teaches, leads, and goes before him. So that, if the sheep is to be led, then it must first feel its need of the Shepherd. Without that conscious need, there will be no coming to Him, and no submission to Him, but always a “leaning unto their own understanding,” thus, missing the mark.
“Helplessness” has other applications. The Shepherd provides for the needs of the sheep, their sustenance, their protection. The “sheep” are men, women, and children. Thus there are SOUL needs, emotional needs, physical and intellectual needs. For all of these, the sheep needs a Shepherd, one that KNOWS “…what he has need of before he asks.”
How then does the Shepherd deal with His sheep? First of all, He declares the reality of the relationship. “I am the good Shepherd.” (Jn. 10:14) In speaking thus, He is revealing to us the intrinsic goodness of the nature of God in all of His dealings with us. There is no moment of any day that He does not deal with us out of His infinite goodness. Secondly, He declares that He is the “I AM” Shepherd, never changing, always the same, always present, sufficient, “…a very present help in time of trouble.” (Ps. 46:1)
The Lord Jesus then goes on to declare: “…(I) know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” (v.14) The sheep BELONG to Him. They are His. As such, He has assumed total responsibility for them. They must recognize this in order to trust Him for all.
Lastly, He reveals that He interacts with His sheep, both individually, and corporately: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give to them eternal life: and they shall never perish.” (v. 27) O Hallesby says that when there is a conscious need of the heart and mind in the life of the believer, that it is the voice of the Lord knocking at the door of the heart, seeking access to the heart in order to meet the need. To hear His voice is to recognize that consciousness of need, deliberately open the door of our hearts to Him, and by faith, give Him full access to meet the need. The Shepherd then leads us, teaches us, and meets the needs within and without. The great blessing in this relationship is the knowledge, the experiential knowledge of His LIFE. Christ reveals Himself to the heart of the sheep. “…they KNOW Me.”
Dear Father, open our eyes to see what, and who, we truly are in Thine eyes. Give us to see the Shepherd in all of His greatness, power, and love. And enable us to fling wide the door of our hearts at every juncture of life, where there is the conscious need, giving Thy Son access. Enable us to hear the voice of the Shepherd, and follow Him. Then, we shall know Thee, please Thee, and see Thy purposes realized. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad