Wandering Sheep

O. T. #1680 "Wandering Sheep"
April 29, 2020
Isaiah 53-Part 5
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way: and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (verse 6)


LET IT GLOW

For the first time the reader learns that the Servant suffered on behalf of others. Even so, people did not recognize it, and He was rejected as One struck down by God for His own supposed sins. (Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary)

Some people may not aware of how sheep are. They are prone to wander off with little or no sense of direction and cannot find their own way home. Thus, they need a shepherd to keep them with the flock. Also, that way they do not wander into danger, such as wild animals who want to devour them for lunch. What an appropriate illustration. Lost and sinful humanity cannot come to the Savior without divine assistance.

Christ is the Good Shepherd (Matthew 9:36), who leaves the 99 sheep and seeks the one who went astray. Sometimes we are bent to backsliding away from our God. We tend to turn aside to our own way, doing our own will. We stubbornly and willfully turn toward our corrupt appetites and passions. We want to be our own master, to do our own will and have what we want, instead of doing God's will. Eventually grace and mercy find their way to us. And we repent and turn around, walking toward God.


Isaiah speaks of Israel straying from God and compares them to wandering sheep. Yet God would send the Messiah to bring them back into the fold. Lest we point fingers at Israel, the word all includes all of us. You are I are wandering sheep who have the tendency to go our own way. We see the desperate condition of mankind. Because of our spiritual blindness and our lack of a shepherd for our souls, we sinners have the tendency to go astray, turn astray.

Are we straying from the fold of God? Jesus loves His sheep. He will take care of us.

LET IT GROW

Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus was verbally assaulted, particularly by the Pharisees. He was rejected and ignored. When that didn't stop Him, they plotted against Him. Even while Jesus was on trial, the same men who found "no fault in Him" had Him scourged and crucified. Yet, at every turn, Jesus, resisted the temptation to retaliate, to hold a grudge, to be defensive or resentful or bitter, to lash out in anger or revenge. (Five Meaningful Minutes a Day, by Charles Swindoll)

The LORD laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. It means to punish by violence, or to strike violently.
The wrath of God should violently strike us, but the fact is, it has struck our Lord Jesus instead. We deserve the entire penalty and punishment for our sins, however, we have been set free by God's grace when we become a Christian. Do we realize that the spiritual agony of bearing our sins was greater than the physical torture Christ endured. Because Jesus willingly was oppressed, He did away from oppression (9:4)

He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, ye He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. (verse 7)

Jesus voluntarily was afflicted, beaten. Also, He did not say a word in His defense; He was silent. The Lamb of God laid down His life for sinners.

When John saw Jesus coming, twice he said, Behold the Lamb of God!
It is found in John 1:29 and 36. He added,  which taketh away the sin of the world, the first time.

Is Jesus your Lamb which takes away your sins? He sacrificed Himself to take our punishment for our sins.

LET IT GO
I am your sheep, Jesus; Your are my Good Shepherd.
Keep me in Your will, on Your path for my life.