Folly and Fidelity

He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23:3

The Lord's people as compared to sheep — often manifest their folly, both by wandering and following. They wander from the Lord's fold — instead of dwelling together in unity. They wander from the Lord's pastures — instead of feeding, ruminating, and resting in them. And worse than all — they wander from the good Shepherd, to whom they should cleave with full purpose of heart. They were naturally prone to wander, and they indulge this wandering disposition often — to their Lord's dishonor, and to their own discomfort.

But, while they wander from the Lord — they follow their own vain imaginations, and others who wander out of the right way — and so are led farther and farther astray.

Then, like the wandering sheep, they become lonely and miserable; for the sheep with its social nature, can only be happy in the flock, and by the Shepherd's side.

The wandering sheep, is a fit emblem of the backsliding Christian, who is both lonely and miserable. Our backslidings commence in the prayer closet — but they do not usually end there. When once we begin to wander from God — we wander farther and farther, until grace arrests us, and the good Shepherd fetches us back. To wander is human — to returnis divine; the former is from sinful nature — the latter is from divine grace. Wandering shows our folly — returning proves the Shepherd's fidelity. Jesus is faithful to his charge, he takes care of his sheep, attending to the whole of his flock. Let us then notice,

The fidelity of Jesus as our Shepherd. He restores my soul, said David, and surely we also can say the same. He goes after every wandering sheep until he finds it; and finding it, brings it back. He goes after it sometimes by painful providences — stripping, bereaving, or smiting with afflictions. As he sent the storm after Jonah, Nathan to David, and the angels to Lot — so he sends his providential messengers after his wandering sheep. But providence alone, is not sufficient to reclaim or recover the wanderer; he therefore sends his grace, or his Holy Spirit, and by his inward, secret, and sanctifying operations — he restores the soul. The Spirit awakens and rouses up the sleepy conscience, leads the wanderer to review his past course, comparing the former with the present — and in this way, he produces conviction, contrition, and sorrow. Reflection produces self condemnation; self-condemnation fills the soul with shame and grief; and shame and grief issues in the determination, I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than now!

The soul gets no rest until it comes back to the Shepherd and the fold, with weeping, supplication, and frank confession of sin. But, it was the Shepherd sought the sheep first, not the sheep the Shepherd; and by the Shepherd's grace alone, was the wandering sheep restored. Having restored the soul — he leads it in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Jesus leads every one of his sheep, he goes before them, calls them, and they know his voice and follow him.

He leads them in right paths. In every moral duty, his footprint is to be seen; for his life is a speaking representation of the law. He is the embodiment, exposition, and illustration of the law; and he has left us an example, that we should follow in his steps.

He leads us also, into all the means of grace. He went from Galilee to Jordan, to be baptized of him by John — setting us an example. He sat down with the twelve, breaking the bread, and handing the wine, saying, Eat, drink, and do it in remembrance of me.

Thus Jesus leads his sheep in right paths, and he does so, for his name's sake. That is, out of his pure love, and for his own honor and glory. It is for the Shepherd's honor — to have all his sheep safe, healthy, and clean; therefore Jesus restores his wanderers, heals his sick ones, and leads all his flock in clean paths. Not one will be allowed to wander finally — but all will be restored, and presented to his Father, to manifest his ceaseless fidelity.

Reader, to wander from Jesus is the height of folly — and it is running into the greatest danger! Watch, therefore, against a restless disposition. Beware of following the devices or desires of your heart. Make the Word of God your rule at all times, and in all things. Look out for the print of the Shepherd's foot — and walk in it. Listen for the Shepherd's voice— and follow it. To follow Jesus is to be obedient, to be on the right path — for he leads in the way of righteousness. To follow Jesus is to make sure of supplies — for he leads into the green pastures, and beside the still waters. To follow Jesus is to be safe — for by his side no foe can injure us, no evil can happen to us.

Let us, therefore, if we have wandered, seek grace to return; crying out with David, I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; seek your servant! And, if we are in the Shepherd's fold, if we are feeding among his flock, if we are reposing at his feet — let us take heed, lest being led away by the error of the wicked, we fall from our steadfastness.

Evil influences are always being exerted, to draw or drive us away from Jesus; and there is a natural proneness in our hearts to wander from him; it becomes therefore necessary for us daily to pray, Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wing. O to be established and settled in the truth! O to live near Jesus, abiding with him! O to feed in fellowship and love, with all the flock of God!

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