As a drove to work this morning I was struck by the image of a shepherd coming to save his sheep and how this was a theme in what I consider to be the greatest of stories. Jesus returning at the end of the ages with the armies of heaven to save his people and restore the world. John Shepherd bringing the united forces of the galaxy to defeat the Reapers and save the earth. Gandalf leading the Rohirrim to save the defenders of Helm's Deep. King David riding into battle to save the people of Israel. King Théoden heroic charge at the Fields of Pelannor. The return of King Aragorn and the restoration of peace to all Middle Earth.
My heart exults with this image and I am filled with hope and wonder at the thought that one day, perhaps even today, The Lord will return and set everything right. I'm not sure if the sky will actually peel away like a scroll or if that is just the creative licence of musicians but whatever happens The Lord's return will be the best and most incredible thing that has ever happened.
Is this yearning for the return of the Good Shepherd in every heart or just the hearts that The Holy Spirit places it in? I think it must be in every heart, at least in some primal sense even if one can not articulate it or understand it. This is part of our being created in the image of God, a yearning for relationship with our creator.
This image of a shepherd. God calls his chosen leaders to be shepherds. David was a shepherd and God called him to be king. Jesus is the King of Kings and he came to us as The Good Shepherd, his birth being announced to common shepherds while the Wiseman were instructed not to tell the king. Psalm 23, written by David the shepherd king, explains how The Lord is our shepherd and how our relationship with him ought to be. He is the shepherd, we are his sheep. He leads us to green pastures even though we lead him to the cross and we would rather wander to barren places, he makes us to drink from clear water even though he thirsted and we do not want to drink, he protects us from wolves and lions because we can not defend ourselves even though we tore his body and murdered him, he walks with us through the darkness because he is the light of the world. We are tired and afraid but he keeps watch and brings us in close. He tirelessly labours on our behalf to provide for us, protect us, and lead us to his Father's house and one day he will return to bring the dead to life and lead all of his people past, present, and future into the new heavens and new earth where we will live forevermore in the peace of The Holy Spirit under The Good Shepherd to the glory of The Father.
Come Lord Jesus
Amen
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