Do you Hear his Voice?

The landscape is barren. A treeless, seemingly water less desert. You are weary and footsore and night is falling.

You are a sheep.

We are the People of his Pasture, and the Sheep of his Hand. (Psalm 95:7).

You remember your shepherd’s voice. Had you stayed with the flock you would be even now led to a watering place. Perhaps a cistern where your shepherd would draw water for you to drink. Or a special tiny trickle of water in an outcropping of rock where he would make a little dam of rocks and provide a pool of quiet waters from which to drink. He would pour oil on your bruised head and your tired feet. Oh, why did you ever leave the flock. Why?

But hark! You hear his voice!

The sheep follow Him for they know his Voice. (John 10:4)

He has left the ninety and nine by the watering place and is searching for you! You can hear him calling in the distance. Will you respond with an answer so that he can find you?

I Have Gone Astray Like a Lost Sheep; Seek thy Servant for I do not Forget thy Commandments. (Psalm 119:176)

The good shepherd counts his sheep as he folds them for the night. How peaceful to sleep and rest under his loving care. In the morning he will lead you to a green pasture. He alone knows how to provide food in this desolate waste.

He Shall Feed his Flock Like a Shepherd (Isa. 40:11).

Yes, “we all, like sheep have gone astray” at various times in our lives. “We have turned every one to his own way.” (Isa. 53:6) We may be even now straying imperceptibly — ever so gradually, not even noticed by ourselves — we may be straying from the flock and from our shepherd. Let us reassess our position Daily that we may truly pray with Paul, in the words of hymn 339:

Now may He who from the dead
Brought the Shepherd of the sheep,
Jesus Christ our living Head,
From all ill us safely keep.
May He help us to fulfill
What is pleasing in His sight,
Perfect us in all His will,
Keep us in the way of right.

Serve the Lord with Gladness: Come before his Presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He that hath made us, and not we Ourselves. We are His People and the Sheep of his Pasture. Be Thankful unto Him and Bless his Name. (Psalm 100:3,4)