Based on a series of sermons preached in PCC Prayer Meetings in 2020
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young
Isaiah 40:11
Something is appealing in the notion of a gentle giant. We often think of giants as being powerful and destructive, and therefore to be feared and fled from. We think of how the army of King Saul hid behind the rocks as Goliath taunted them. But if we know that the giant is gentle, what a different response we will have towards him. Instead of fleeing from him, we will want to draw near to him. Instead of fearing him, we will draw comfort from him. Thus, many children’s stories feature giants that are friendly and gentle. We love those stories. They pique our imagination.
Our text is about a real-life gentle giant.
We have been studying Isaiah 40. We noted several things thus far: (1) This chapter begins the second part of this book that focuses on promises and comfort; (2) This chapter is not only about God generally, but about the Lord Jesus Christ; (3) It calls upon the Lord’s ministers of the New Covenant to focus on messages of comfort instead of condemnation; (4) the message of comfort has to do with salvation from sin in Christ; (5) It calls upon God’s people to testify of the good news in Christ to each other and the world; and (6) It speaks of the power and authority of Christ to save, to rule and to reward His people. He is, in other words, a giant! He is truly a giant: not physically, but spiritually.
But as verse 11 of this chapter shows us, He is also truly gentle:
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Let’s consider three things from this beautiful verse. First, let us observe how our Lord feeds us like a shepherd. Secondly, let us appreciate how He gathers His lambs and carries them in his bosom. Thirdly, we want to be amazed at how He leads those who are with young.
1. He Feeds Us like a Shepherd
He [Christ Jesus] shall feed his flock like a shepherd…
A shepherd looks after a flock of sheep. Today, flocks of sheep are kept in vast fenced-up pastureland where they are free to roam. In ancient times, however, sheep were not kept in fenced-up pastureland. Instead, flocks of sheep were dependent on their shepherd to lead them into green pastures to graze and to still waters to drink.
Without the shepherd, the sheep would go hungry and thirsty. And not only so, but they would suffer predation and diseases. They could not defend themselves against bears, lions or wolves. They didn’t know how to look for green grass and water. They didn’t know how to maintain their own health. They were extremely vulnerable without their shepherd. They were totally dependent upon their shepherd for their life and well-being.
God’s people are like that. We are “the sheep of his pasture” (Ps 100:3). Christians and Christian Churches are really like sheep—extremely vulnerable.
We cannot help ourselves. We are, by nature, dead in sin and trespasses. We cannot do anything right on our own. All our righteousnesses are filthy rags in God’s sight (Isa 64:6). We fall short of the glory of God. We are, by nature, God’s enemies. We cannot protect ourselves, and the devil is prowling about like a lion waiting to devour whom he may (1 Pet 5:8).
Unless we have a Shepherd to feed us, we will perish. Take note that the word translated as ‘feed’ is actually the same in the Hebrew as the word translated ‘shepherd.’ It is the word râ‛âh (רָעָה), which means “to see” or “to shepherd.” When we read in our text that Christ Jesus feeds us like a shepherd, the idea is not just that He provides food for us, but that He shepherds us. He provides us all that we need in our Christian life, both today and forever.
The Lord Jesus himself tells us in John 10:11:
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
As our shepherd, He leads and guides us. He feeds and waters us. He restores us when we are injured or ill. He searches for us and leads us back when we stray. He protects us against danger. He chastises us when we are disobedient.
He does all these things not as an ordinary shepherd, for He is the “good shepherd.” He is all that can be desired of a shepherd. He literally puts His whole heart and soul into the work of shepherding His sheep. He laid down His life for us out of love for us. We are His flock.
He is our everything. We need Him. We depend on Him. He is the reason for our existence as a church. He is the reason why we love. He is the reason for our worship. He is our sanctification. He is our hope and our joy. He is our Shepherd upon whom we depend entirely.
And not only so, but as Isaiah reminds us, …
2. He Gathers the Lambs
… he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom…
v. 11
What does that mean? Well, in the first place, lambs naturally refer to baby sheep. The shepherd who loves his sheep will have special care for the lambs. He will be there when the lambs are delivered. He will treat them like his own babies. He will gather them up in his arms and carry them in his bosom to clean them and to keep them warm. He will carry them if he finds them too tired to walk or too weak to escape predators. The lambs have a special place in the heart of the loving shepherd.
Now, if Christ is the shepherd of the flock of God, then He is also the shepherd of the lambs in this flock.
It is easy to forget the children, isn’t it? It is easy to think of the children as being a hindrance and a distraction. The disciples of the Lord thought so. On one occasion during Jesus’ ministry, children surrounded Him. Some of their parents wanted Him to bless them. The disciples were not pleased. They thought He had better things to do. They began to rebuke the parents and the children. But the Lord was not pleased with their attitude. He said unto them:
Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God
Mk 10:14
Indeed, the lambs in the flock have a very special place in the heart of our Lord. Instead of chasing them away, He would rather gather them into His arms and carry them in His bosom. He deals with the children lovingly and gently, just as a doting shepherd cares for his newborn lambs.
Are you a covenant child? You are a lamb of Christ. He has placed His mark on you when you were baptised. You are special and holy in His sight (1 Cor 7:14c). He laid His life down not only for sheep but lambs, as well. You must believe in Him and continue to trust Him. He will take care of you. He will never forsake you nor leave you.
Even if your parents and the adults you know do not understand you, you can be assured that He understands. He loves you more than your parents do. You must not doubt that at all.
So dear child, go to him. Go to Him with your hurts, your tears, and your needs. Go to Him especially when you are sorry for your sin. He will receive you. He will not turn you away. He will not scold you. He will forgive you. He will teach you and help you to be a good disciple of His. He is ready to bless you.
But finally, consider how our Lord leads the sheep with young.
3. He Leads the Sheep with Young
He … shall gently lead those that are with young
v. 11
When you look at a flock of sheep in a modern pastureland, you may be tempted to think that sheep are all homogeneous. They are the same size and shape and almost indistinguishable from one another.
But do you realise that this is the case only because most modern sheep handling facilities will separate their sheep according to gender and age?
It was rarely the case in ancient times. In ancient times, the whole flock of sheep would travel together. The old sheep and lambs, the sheep with young: they would all travel together. Now, the sheep with young cannot walk as fast as the rest of the flock. Remember what Jacob told Esau when he wanted him to follow him back to his home:
My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die
Gen 33:13
Jacob was a type of Christ in this regard. Christ, our Shepherd, knows His flock well. He does not push them forward. He leads them gently and compassionately, giving due consideration to those with young.
What are those with young? A prime example is parents with young children. Do you realise that parents with young children are a special group of believers who are particularly in need of the Lord’s grace, wisdom, and strength? This is so in many ways.
In the first place, parents with young children generally have much less spare time and resources compared to those who are single or couples whose children are all grown up. As such, we cannot expect them to contribute as much by way of the covenant life and needs of the church. This is why, if you are in a church where there are many families with young children, you will get the sense that everyone seems to be very busy and has no time for each other. Our Lord understands. He “gently lead[s] those that are with young.” Therefore, let those without children or with older children also seek to understand.
In the second place, parents with children are often burdened with numerous cares, struggles, and sorrows that are unique to parenthood. Often, they lack the energy to run as fast as other believers. So, it can be extremely stressful for them to have to deal with a lot of demands placed upon them. Our Lord understands. He leads them gently. He is sympathetic to their struggles. Our Lord does not have a one-size-fits-all ministry. It is enough that He knows their love and desire to follow Him. He leads His sheep and lambs according to their state and abilities.
However, let us note that our text is not only concerned with parents and children. Yes, there is no doubt that parents with children have a special place in the heart of our Saviour. But so do those who carry particular burdens in their hearts or struggle much in their Christian walk due to their circumstances in life.
I think of those who suffer physical or mental disabilities. I am reminded of those who are dealing with particular illnesses. Then, there are those who have to bear with the burden of caring for a loved one who is sick or disabled. Or, think of those who are struggling to make ends meet or experience mounting difficulties at work or in school. These are like sheep with young. They have special responsibilities. They carry special burdens and cares. The Lord understands.
Are you, dear reader, like a sheep with young? Do you find yourself encumbered with many cares and concerns of life so that you find yourself unable to follow the pace of other members of the church? Or do you find yourself unable to obey the instructions you received, though you would much rather put them into practice? Or are you burdened by guilt because you have sinned against the Lord?
Listen, the Lord will not leave you behind. Neither will He force you to conform to His expectations. He will lead you gently. He is not impatient with those of us who are encumbered and slow. He leads us with consideration as a shepherd leading his sheep, which are with young.
As long as we seek to be obedient to Him, as long as we seek His glory, He will not allow us to go astray from Him. He will lead us gently and compassionately on the right path.
Therefore, beloved sheep or lamb, cast your cares upon Him. Follow Him with confidence and assurance of His love. Go to Him with all your burdens and follow Him.
He will lead you with perfect wisdom, understanding and love. He will never leave you nor forsake you because He redeemed you with His precious blood out of His love for you.
Conclusion
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young
Isaiah 40:11
Amen.
—JJ Lim