p. 146 | The Lord My Shepherd by Y-Y

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, March 4, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 10

The Lord My Shepherd.

By Y—Y

Beloved, we “were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop” of our souls. 1 Pet. 1:25. But are we following closely; or are we lagging far behind in the pilgrimage? You are aware that in the East the shepherd always goes before his sheep, and calls them by name, and they follow him. Thus our Lord says, “My sheep hear my voice.” John 10:27. Are you and I attentive listeners? Do we stand upon our watch, to see what he will say unto us, and what we shall answer when we are reproved? Hab. 2:1. Does the Lord know that, like Caleb, we follow him “fully”? Num. 14:24. Then in the resurrection he will give us eternal life; we shall live and reign with him, and none shall pluck us out of his hand. He has left an example, that we “should follow his steps.” 1 Pet. 2:21; Phil. 2:5, etc.

The Lord our Shepherd is presented to us in three precious characters.

1. He is the Good Shepherd. Behold him, our Saviour! What gives him this holy name? He gave his life—his soul—for the sheep. How the intelligent reception of this joyous truth sets us free from the pagan-papal idea of the immortality of the soul! If the “natural body,” i. e., “the living soul” (1 Cor. 15:44, 45; Gen. 2:7), were immortal, or deathless, then the Father could not have made the Son’s “soul an offering for sin,” neither could our Good Shepherd have “poured out his soul unto death.” Isa. 53:10, 12. But because we are partakers of flesh and blood, which are corruptible, and “cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50), he himself likewise took part of the same, that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, and deliver us (Heb. 2:14, 15), thus, oh, ineffable mercy! giving his soul a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). Let us adore Him who, loving us, loved us to the end (John 13:1), and consecrate ourselves entirely to his service. But see where this leads us: “He laid down his life [soul, psuche] for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16.

2. He is the Great Shepherd. Death could not hold our Good Shepherd. God raised him from the dead, among whom he had lain to prove his love for the sheep. Because he had so humbled himself, God has highly exalted him (Phil. 2:9–11); and we behold him now as our great and powerful High Priest, interceding for us; our great Shepherd to take care of his sheep, whom he has purchased by his precious blood. He, seated at the Father’s right hand, watches over us, and desires that we may be perfect in every good work, thus doing the Father’s will. Heb. 13:20, 21. Do we rejoice in his tender solicitude for us? Is his present work the object of our daily meditation and thanksgiving?

3. He will soon be manifested as the Chief Shepherd. The coming of the Lord is at hand. The warning voice has reached our ears. The third angel’s message is going forth. We are living in the last generation before the Master will rise up and “shut to the door” of mercy. Luke 13:25. He cries to you, to me, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man [great or small] according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12.

O sleeper, awake! O worldly professor, thinking thou art safe because thou keepest the Sabbath in appearance, but not in heart, arouse thee! O idler in the Lord’s vineyard, having life, yet listless, careless of the Lord’s work, up, up, and seek the Lord to serve. Say, “Here am I; do with me as seemeth good to thee.” The time is short; the night of the world is at hand; the day of grace is far spent; call upon father, mother, brother, sister, child, neighbor, friend, and enemy if thou hast one, to flee from the wrath to come. Now, the Lord says to thee, “Son, go work to-day in my vineyard.” May you and I receive “the amaranthine crown of glory.” 1 Pet. 5:2–4.

Y—Y.

Somersetshire, England.