Shepherds and Sheep – Isaiah 40

A text – Isaiah 40:1-11

40:1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
40:2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
40:3 A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
40:4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
40:5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
40:6 A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field.
40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass.
40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.
40:9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
40:10 See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

A reflection:

Isaiah knows his fellow Israelites have been through the toughest of times. God speaks through him to offer words of comfort – that they will be held in loving arms, that their path ahead will not be rocky and overgrown but smooth and straight, that for once they will not have to struggle so much.

God not only promises to bring this sort of comfort but also to announce it beforehand, so that the people know it is coming and all they have to do is wait for it. God will lead them like a shepherd.

Yes, and how likely is it that people want to be led? Since God created us with free will, we almost never want to be led. I must confess I have always loved to watch Jo Frost (Supernanny) wrangle parents and their children into order out of chaos. She knows full well that when a household is in chaos with 3 or 4 kids running their parents ragged, the order has been overturned and the immature are making the decisions for the household. She teaches the parents how to re-assert their shepherd-hood, and soon the kids learn that it’s easier and much more comfortable playing by the rules than chaotically trying to lead everyone else themselves. But they must realize they are not the boss; Mom and Dad are the boss.

We are very uncomfortable not being the boss. We think we will lose something if we turn that role over to a God, a shepherd, a…well…a Creator of the Universe. So we scream and yell and force our will. Maybe we are given Advent to try listening for the voice of that shepherd Isaiah is talking about. Listen for it. Wait for it. Let it lead us to order, to peace, to fullness of life and shalom. Come, Lord Jesus.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for never giving up on us as your sheep. Help us at least once in a while to be led by you instead of forcing our own way. Let us experience the peace and joy that can be found when we know our God is the Good Shepherd.  Amen.