Morning By Morning #232

He will stand and shepherd his flock

in the strength of the LORD.

Micah 5:4

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

This verse refers to Christ’s reign in His church as our “Shepherd King.” He has supremacy, but His superiority is that of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock. He commands and receives obedience, but it is the willing obedience of well-cared-for sheep. They render their obedience joyfully to their beloved Shepherd, whose voice they know so well. He rules with the power of love and the energy of goodness.

Christ’s reign is practical in its character. Our text verse says, “He will stand and shepherd,” meaning the great Head of the church is actively engaged in providing for His people. He does not sit down upon the throne in idleness or simply hold His scepter without wielding it in governing His people. No, He stands and shepherds, and as a shepherd He does everything expected of a shepherd. He guides, watches, protects, restores, tends, and feeds.

Christ’s reign is continual in its duration. Our verse says, “He will stand and shepherd”—not, “He will stand and shepherd now and then, often leaving His position,” nor, “He will send revival one day, and the next day leave His church in barrenness.” Christ “will neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4), His hands never rest, His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders are never weary of carrying His people’s burdens.

Christ’s reign is powerfully effective in its action. “He will…shepherd…in the strength of the LORD”—the Lord Jehovah. Wherever Christ is, there is God; and whatever Christ does is an action of the Most High God. Oh, what a joyful truth to consider that He who stands today representing the interests of His people is “Very God of Very God” (Nicene Creed), to whom “every knee [will] bow” (Phil. 2:10).

Blessed are we who belong to such a shepherd, whose humanity fellowships with us, and whose divinity protects us. “Let us bow down in worship…[as]…the people of his pasture” (Ps. 95:6 – 7).

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Jesus the Messiah not only “will stand and shepherd his flock” but “will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Mal. 3:3). There is a beautiful analogy in this, for a jeweler sits as he refines precious metals, such as silver. He puts the silver in the crucible, puts the fire to it, but does not then walk away, leaving it on its own. No, he sits and watches it, being careful not to set the fire too hot, which may ruin the metal, nor set it too low, which will not allow the heat to do its work to burn away the dross and impurities. He sits, carefully watching the metal, all the while adjusting the fire to exactly the right temperature. And when does he know it is perfectly pure? The answer is simple—when the jeweler can see his face in the metal, for it reflects his likeness.

In the same way, the Lord sends the heat of suffering into our lives to burn away our impurities and to conform us “to the likeness of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). “We…are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12).