Comfort for Believers with Wayward Children

After my last post on Shepherds, I couldn’t help but take interest in an Isaiah chapter written to the scattered sheep.  This post is about the prophesies of Isaiah to them.  

Sheep are humble, followers of Jesus Christ.  Many of the “sheep” are “lost.”  Isaiah defines being lost:  “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light?” (Isa 50:10)

Most people assume that unbelievers are lost.  In the Old Testament, “Gentiles,” were any of a whole host of people who didn’t believe in God.  These days, even believers are lost.  Isaiah starts out the chapter, “Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people…” (Isa 49/1 Ne 21)

So the sheep are lost.  But, believing in Christ, they know that He will find them and lead them to safety.  But what about their children?  In this chapter, the sheep are not worried about themselves; they are worried about their children.  “Then shalt thou say in thine heart: Who has begotten me these…I have lost my children…who hath brought up these?”  Mothers of wayward children often wonder how it happened that they “lost” their children.

One Fold, One Shepherd

Photo by Jim Jeffery - Used with Permission

Moses delegated the spiritual leadership of the Israelites when he said, “The Lord, the God of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Num 27:16-17)  The first to be given a charge was Joshua.  Many others have acted as shepherds.

These leaders answer to God who is described as the Chief Shepherd in 1 Pet 5:1-4.  This verse shows a shepherd’s responsibilities.  “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

With these definitions, let’s consider the prophetic words of Isaiah about a lion and some shepherds.

“For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.” (Isa 31:4)

In this verse, the lion has identified at least one of the sheep that the shepherds have a responsibility to protect.  However, it it not afraid of the shepherds.  Why is the lion so bold?  Isaiah says that the shepherds have been sleeping.  (Isa 56:9-11)

All the Stars that Glitter

This post is an excerpt from the words of Orson F Whitney.  He speaks of the creation of this world and others like it.  He shares the perspective that God's work is to save and exalt the human family.  It is a beautiful perspective.  I also share with you the thoughts of a scientist on the creation (see video).

"We are placed in this world measurably in the dark. We no longer see our Father face to face. While it is true that we once did; that we once stood in His presence, seeing as we are seen, knowing, according to our intelligence, as we are known; the curtain has dropped, we have changed our abode, we have taken upon ourselves flesh; the veil of forgetfulness intervenes between this life and that, and we are left, as Paul expresses it, to “see through a glass darkly,” to “know in part and to prophesy in part;” to see only to a limited extent, the end from the beginning. We do not comprehend things in their fullness. But we have the promise, if we will receive and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, wisely using the intelligence, the opportunities, the advantages, and the possessions which He continually bestows upon us—the time will come, in the eternal course of events, when our minds will be cleared from every cloud, the past will recur to memory, the future will be an open vision, and we will behold things as they are, and the past, present and future will be one eternal day, as it is in the eyes of God our Father, who knows neither past, present or future; whose course is one eternal round; who creates, who saves, redeems and glorifies the workmanship of His hands, in which He Himself is glorified.