See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him…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.” vss. 10a, 11
Isaiah 40:9-11
When our faith ancestors were in a tough spot they eagerly looked for the coming of the Lord, so it’s not surprising that the prophet assured the people that the Lord was on the way, and that the Lord would come with might. What does surprise us is his description of the coming Lord as a shepherd! Too often we’ve gotten the idea that power and might will involve weapons and armies, a kind of military campaign that will overwhelm enemies with “shock and awe.” We have the sense that armed forces are the only might that can make right! But Isaiah suggests another way. He says that the coming Lord will be like a shepherd, and “he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.” Think of it! In these coming weeks as the Mighty One invades our space, it will not be with the intention of whipping us into shape. That just doesn’t work! What we need more than anything else is gentleness! Now we won’t get that from heavy handed politicians and their silly power games, but that is what we get from the incarnate Christ. God is, and a gentle touch is our sign of God’s presence.
Thought for the Day: Where do I find gentleness?
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