OUR ETERNAL SHEPHERD

For you were like SHEEP going astray; but have now returned to the SHEPHERD and OVERSEER of your souls

– 1 Peter 2:25

The Shepherd-hood of God is BIBLICAL. The Bible consistently portrays the Lord God as the Shepherd seeking lost sheep and bringing them home again: “For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day...” (Ezek. 34:11). The Shepherd and Overseer of our souls gathers, guides, guards, feeds, leads and protects us; He provides for all that we would ever need.

The Shepherd-hood of God is ETERNAL: it spans from eternity-past, through the present to eternity-future. Shepherding is in the Nature of our Father-God. This is illustrated most strikingly by the wonderful revelations in three of the Psalms: 22, 23, and 24! Our favourite Psalm 23 is actually one of three successive Psalms, usually referred to as “Shepherd Psalms”.

Psalm 22 is the Psalm of the GOOD SHEPHERD, Who laid down His life for His sheep right from eternity-past. Psalm 23 is the Psalm of the GREAT SHEPHERD Who cares so intensely for His sheep, fulfilling that role in the present day. Psalm 24 is the Psalm of the CHIEF SHEPHERD, our soon-coming King, Who will return triumphantly in the clouds of glory and reign for all of eternity-future! John 10:16 says: “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they willl hear My voice; and there will be ONE FLOCK, and ONE SHEPHERD.” The Shepherd and Overseer of our souls has been gathering His sheep into His flock over the ages; multitudes from of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues (Rev.7:9).

What comfort and solace it is to know that the shepherd-hood of JESUS is eternal in my life! I have a Shepherd over my soul for all of time and eternity. He never sleeps nor slumbers. He never goes on vacation. He’ll never leave nor abandon me. He’ll never allow the prowling wolves or roaring lions to touch or harm His own. He is eternally committed to feeding, keeping, protecting, and leading His sheep. I am never alone. I am a sheep in God’s chosen Flock. I am a member of His eternal Family. O, what a Shepherd I have in JESUS! What a Father I have in JEHOVAH!