ISRAEL'S SHEPARD KING -
By- Pastor J. C. O'Hair
As we study the outline of the Gospel of Luke, let us think of the Twenty-third Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Also read Jeremiah 50:6 concerning Israel, the lost sheep of Jehovah and the Prophecy in Ezekiel in 34:11 and 12, how the Shepherd will come and seek them and when they are found God will put a Shepherd over them. (Ezekiel 37:24).
Note Isaiah 40:10 and 11: “Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently feed those that are with young.”
Christ is the Good Shepherd, Who gave His life for the sheep. (John 10:11). He is the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd, (Hebrews 13:20 and 21 - I Peter 5:4).
We know that David was the hero of those shepherds who kept their flock. David was Israel’s shepherd-king and surely a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Both David and Christ were born in Bethlehem “the city of David.” This was announced to the shepherds. (Luke 2:11 to 16).
Only in Luke do we have the announcement of Luke 1:27 to 33 that Christ is to be born in the city of David, in the house of David, as the Seed of David, to take the throne of David.
The Shepherd seeks His sheep, He came to seek and to save the lost sheep of Israel, even the publicans. (Luke 19:9 and 10). The shepherd drives off the destroyers of the sheep. Christ was the Horn of salvation raised up in the house of David to deliver Israel from Gentile subjugation. (Luke 1:68 to 71).
With such a Shepherd the sheep were thus instructed: “he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” Luke 3:11.” Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.” (Luke 9:3). “Carry neither purse nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.” (Luke 10:4)
“. . . take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, neither for the body, what ye shall put on.” (Luke 12:22). “And seek not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.” (Luke 12:29).
Finally the Shepherd-King said to His sheep, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupted.” (Luke 12:32 and 33).
With such a program they had to say, “The Lord is My Shepherd.”
Then only in Luke 15:1 to 6 do we find in detail one of the greatest stories of all ages: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” Luke 15:4 and 5. Thus we can see how the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke is Israel’s Shepherd-King.
In Luke we do not find the Gentile woman of Mark 7:27 and Matthew 15:21 to 25, coming to the Shepherd.
The only Gentile in Luke is the Roman official, who built a synagogue for Israel and who would not dare to come to Israel’s King except through one of the Shepherd’s sheep. (Luke 7:1 to 12).
After this study surely we will not call Luke a Gentile, and follow those who call Luke’s Gospel, “the Gentile Gospel.” Christ was sent in Luke, to the sons and daughters of Abraham. (Luke 13:16 - Luke 19:9 and 10).
Les Feldick Ministries
30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.
Kinta, OK 74552
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
E-mail this BIBLE UDY to all your friends
No comments:
Post a Comment