My Flock

by D. Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Oct 1973

In the Scriptures God often likens men to sheep and draws a parallel between their kindred characteristics. This is not to debase the human race. Indeed we are moved in reverence when we recall that the Eternal Son is presented as the Lamb "slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). This eternal purpose was fully realized when at Calvary the Lord Jesus perfected, to the satisfaction of God, the work of redemption and bore away the sin of a world of men who like sheep have gone astray and turned every one to his own way(Isa. 53:6).

Sheep are particularly prone to wander away from other sheep and also from their appointed pasture, and become lost to their shepherd and owner. The Psalmist knew this when he confessed, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep" (Psa. 119:176). The Scriptures testify that man in his unsaved state, although of more value than a sheep (Matt. 12:12), is far astray from God and in a perilous condition. But blessed is every one whom the Good Shepherd has found, regarding whom He can say, "Rejoice with Me, for I have found My sheep which was lost" (Luke 15:6).

The first principle in sheep farming is to bring together into one flock an owner's sheep. When God redeemed Israel from the bondage of Egypt he led forth His people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron (Psa. 77:20). Moses had often led Jethro's flock round the mountain of God, but now he was entrusted with the redeemed of the Lord, and there at Horeb that vast company accepted the terms of the Old Covenant saying, "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do", thereupon they became God's separated and gathered people to whom He committed the kingdom of God: "Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation". From that day onward Israel occupied a unique position in divine testimony.

This covenant at Horeb between God and the people of Israel is of the utmost significance: Not only were Israel redeemed by the blood of the paschal lamb and separated by the Red Sea, but they, by their acceptance of the terms which God commanded them (Heb. 9:20), had become His own peculiar treasure. He could dwell amongst them (Exod. 29:45,46) and speak of them as "My people... My flock" (Jer. 23:2). Alas, God's delight in His people was soon to be spoilt by the declension which so often follows a divine movement. God saw His sheep wandering through all the mountains of Israel and upon every high hill when they should have been together. Thus scattered they had become a prey to the beasts of the field. This havoc wrought among the sheep of God's pasture was largely due to the negligent behaviour of the shepherds of Israel to whom God said, "Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture I ... Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them" (Jer. 23:1-2). A grave indictment indeed that the shepherds had driven away God's sheep and not visited them. Such words should stir the consciences of all those who are entrusted with the care of God's flock today.

When the Lord Jesus came to earth He was moved with compassion when He saw the multitude distressed and scattered "as sheep not having a shepherd" (Matt. 9:36). It was to such that He was first sent, even to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24).

Although the house of Israel would not accept Him nor His message there was a small company of disciples who received His words and faithfully kept them (John 17:6,8). It was this company He addressed when He said, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). This little flock was to succeed the house of Israel as the custodians of God's kingdom and testimony on earth, to be God's people together in oneness of order and practice.

After the coming of the Holy Spirit following the ascension of

the Lord Jesus Christ to the throne of heaven, the first church of God came into being at Jerusalem. We then read: "They then that received his (Peter's) word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:41,42). The testimony soon extended beyond Jerusalem, throughout Judaea, Samaria and to Gentile cities even as the Lord had intended (Luke 24:47-48; Acts 1:8). Churches of God were planted on the same basis, and one form of doctrine obtained throughout them all (1 Cor. 7:17, 11:16). Together they formed one thing for God, being a holy nation, a people for God's own possession (1 Pet. 2:9); together defending the one Faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), as well as being the "flock of God". It was the latter aspect that Peter was concerned with when he wrote, "The elders therefore among you I exhort... Tend the flock of God which 5 among you" (1 Pet. 5:1,2). Only part of the flock of God was among them, for the whole flock of God consisted of all who were together in all the churches of God. It is clear from the New Testament Scriptures that in each church there were recognized overseers fitted by the Holy Spirit to feed and tend the saints in their respective churches. Failure to carry out this vital responsibility in a God honouring manner could entail great loss at the judgement-seat of Christ. Moreover, shepherds, like the hireling who careth not for the sheep (John 10:13) can through selfishness and neglect cause irreparable damage to the sheep of God's pasture.

Paul was deeply concerned about the role of the overseers when at Miletus he addressed the elders of the church in Ephesus. His exhortation is significant, "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock ... I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:28-30). Overseers were to give attention to their own conduct and to that of the flock that had been entrusted to their care, for the church of God did not belong to them, it was the property of God having been purchased by the blood of Christ. Spiritual insight enabled the apostle to give warning of men, likened to wolves, who would scatter and devour the sheep of God's flock. Soon his words proved true, and the devastation begun at that early age continues. The sectarian child, born out of perverse teaching in the New Testament churches has grown to manhood, and today stalks the world opposing every endeavour to bring God's children together in the unity of the Spirit and on the ground of the truth

God's way is "one flock, one shepherd" (John 10:16).

D. Smith, Lerwick | Oct 1973
General