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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
I t will bring a blessing to your heart at this Christmas season to meditate upon
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■ I DR. TALBOT I T WAS to shepherds that the first announcement of the birth of Christ was made in Bethlehem of Judea. Not to men of wealth, or of royal distinction, or of in tellectual achievement‘was the good news of the Saviour first given, but to those of lowliest rank. Not only was the greatest event in history announced to shepherds, but Christ Himself also is portrayed in the Word of God as a Shepherd. As the Christmas season approaches, it will do us good to consider these facts anew, and to meditate on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. The Shepherd’s Prominence The relationship that the Lord Jesus Christ bears to those who trust in Him must be of supreme importance, for the Spirit of God has emphasized it throughout the Word. In the Old Testament, prominence is given to men whose occupation was the care of sheep—men like Abel, Moses, Joseph, David, and Amos. The reason for this is plain: In various aspects of their life and work, these men foreshadowed the Lord Jesus Christ in His love and care for His people. The Word of God presents Christ as: The Good Shepherd The Great Shepherd The Chief Shepherd As the Good Shepherd, He lays down His life for the sheep: “ I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). As the Great Shepherd, He intercedes for His people, as the ever-living Lord at the right hand of God: “That great shepherd of the sheep” (Heb. 13:20). As the Chief Shepherd, He is coming again to this earth, first to receive His church, the “members of his bbdy,” and then to rule over the nations in power and majesty: “When the chief shepherd shall appear... to
him be glory and dominion for ever” (1 Pet. 5:4,11). These three aspects of Christ’s shepherd ministry are set forth also in Psalms 22, 23, and 24. In Psalm 22, Christ is the Good Shepherd, laying down His life for the sheep. Note the opening words: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The Psalm gives a detailed description of the crucifixion of our Lord, even to the piercing of His hands and feet (v. 16). In Psalm 24, Christ is the Chief Shepherd, returning to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, This is the Psalm that says: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle... The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Between these two portions that deal with the death and the reign of Christ, there is another brief song, often called "the Shepherd Psalm.” In Psalm 23, Christ is the Great Shepherd, caring for His sheep. This is the Psalm that speaks of resting, and leading, and feeding—activities that are common to us all. In Psalm 22, we see Mount Calvary; in Psalm 24, we look off to Mount Zion; but between these two moun tain heights we have the valley representing this present age in which we live. It is with this valley of our own times and experiences that we are concerned in this meditation. The Shepherd’s Protection On the rolling hills of Palestine, the shepherd would take his place above his flock, but never far from them, watching intently against any danger that might over take the sheep. Likewise, from His position at the right hand of God, our Shepherd can observe the slightest trouble that affects His children. The Eastern shepherd guarded his sheep with his own body, placing himself between them and their enemies. And Christ, the Great
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