December 22nd - The Good Shepherd's Promise
The Good Shepherd's Promise
"'For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord.'" (Ezekiel 34:11-15)
In times of uncertainty and darkness, it's natural to feel lost and scattered. The Israelites faced such a moment during their exile, separated from their homeland and seemingly abandoned. Yet through the prophet Ezekiel, God makes an extraordinary promise – He himself would come to shepherd His people.
This passage carries profound meaning during the Advent season. Just as God promised to personally seek out His scattered sheep, He fulfilled this promise by sending Jesus, the Good Shepherd, into our world. When Jesus arrived in Bethlehem, He came not as a distant ruler, but as Emmanuel – God with us – to gather His people and care for them personally.
The imagery of a shepherd tending his flock paints a picture of intimate care and protection. God doesn't delegate this responsibility to others; He takes it upon Himself. This personal involvement shows us the depths of His love and commitment to His people. In our modern context, this means that God is actively involved in our lives, seeking us out when we wander and providing for our needs.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, this passage reminds us that Jesus' birth wasn't just a historical event, but the fulfillment of God's promise to personally care for His people. The manager scene represents not just the arrival of a baby, but the coming of the Shepherd who would lay down His life for His sheep.
Further Reading:
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." (John 10:11-14)
Ask the Following Questions:
1. In what areas of your life do you need to trust God's shepherding care more fully?
2. How does knowing that God personally seeks you out change your perspective on your current circumstances?
3. What does it mean for you that Jesus is both the promised Shepherd and the sacrificial Lamb?
Prayer:
Loving Shepherd, thank you for seeking us out and gathering us close to you. During this Advent season, help us to recognize your faithful care in our lives. Give us the courage to trust you more deeply and follow where you lead. Thank you for sending Jesus to be our Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us. Guide us today as we seek to follow you more closely. In Jesus' name, Amen.