Divine Shepherd
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sheep that the boy David, single-handed, encountered the lion and the
bear, and rescued from their teeth the stolen lamb.
As the shepherd leads his flock over the rocky hills, through forest
and wild ravines, to grassy nooks by the riverside; as he watches them
on the mountains through the lonely night, shielding from robbers,
caring tenderly for the sickly and feeble, his life comes to be one with
theirs. A strong and tender attachment unites him to the objects of his
care. However large the flock, the shepherd knows every sheep. Every
one has its name, and responds to the name at the shepherd’s call.
As an earthly shepherd knows his sheep, so does the divine Shep-
herd know His flock that are scattered throughout the world. “Ye My
flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith
the Lord God.” Jesus says, “I have called thee by thy name; thou art
Mine.” “I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.”
Ezekiel
34:31
;
Isaiah 43:1
;
49:16
.
Jesus knows us individually, and is touched with the feeling of
our infirmities. He knows us all by name. He knows the very house
in which we live, the name of each occupant. He has at times given
directions to His servants to go to a certain street in a certain city, to
such a house, to find one of His sheep.
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Every soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one
for whom the Saviour died. The distress of every one touches His
heart. The cry for aid reaches His ear. He came to draw all men unto
Himself. He bids them, “Follow Me,” and His Spirit moves upon their
hearts to draw them to come to Him. Many refuse to be drawn. Jesus
knows who they are. He also knows who gladly hear His call, and are
ready to come under His pastoral care. He says, “My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” He cares for each one
as if there were not another on the face of the earth.
“He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.... And
the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.” The Eastern shepherd
does not drive his sheep. He depends not upon force or fear; but
going before, he calls them. They know his voice, and obey the call.
So does the Saviour-Shepherd with His sheep. The Scripture says,
“Thou leddest Thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and
Aaron.” Through the prophet, Jesus declares, “I have loved thee with
an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.”
He compels none to follow Him. “I drew them,” He says, “with cords