Evening
Time: 5:13 PM PST
"He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom."
--Isaiah 40:11
Who is He of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
Why doth He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and
any weakness at once melts His heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the
feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion. It is
His office, as a faithful High Priest, to consider the weak. Besides, He
purchased them with blood, they are His property: He must and will care for
that which cost Him so dear. Then He is responsible for each lamb, bound
by covenant engagements not to lose one. Moreover, they are all a part of His
glory and reward.
But how may we understand the expression, "He will carry them"?
Sometimes He carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial.
Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are "carried" by being filled
with an unusual degree of love, so that they bear up and stand fast.
Though their knowledge may not be deep, they have great sweetness in what they
do know. Frequently He "carries" them by giving them a very simple faith,
which takes the promise just as it stands, and believingly runs with every
trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual
degree of confidence, which carries them above the world.
"He carries the lambs in His bosom." Here is boundless
affection. Would He put them in His bosom if He did not love them much? Here
is tender nearness: so near are they, that they could not possibly be
nearer. Here is hallowed familiarity: there are precious love-passages
between Christ and His weak ones. Here is perfect safety: in His bosom
who can hurt them? They must hurt the Shepherd first. Here is perfect rest
and sweetest comfort. Surely we are not sufficiently sensible of the
infinite tenderness of Jesus!