Isaiah 40 (Part 11) – Isa 40:11 – He Shall Lead His Flock Like a Shepherd

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Isa 40:11

1. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:…”
2. This is a continuation of Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the God of Israel (Isa 40:9).
3. God is the shepherd of His people (Gen 49:24; Psa 80:1).
4. Jesus is the good shepherd (Joh 10:11).
5. Jesus the great shepherd of the sheep (Heb 13:20).

iii.    Jesus is the chief Shepherd (1Pe 5:4).

1. Gen 49:24-25 is great prophecy of the of the deity of Jesus Christ Who is “the mighty God” (Gen 49:24 c/w Isa 9:6), “the stone of Israel” (Gen 49:24 c/w Act 4:10-11 c/w Mat 21:42), and “the Almighty” (Gen 49:25 c/w Rev 1:8).
2. Jesus is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls (1Pe 2:25).
3. Shepherd – 1. a. A man who guards, tends, and herds a flock of sheep (grazing at large); usually one so employed for hire; or one of a pastoral people who herds (his own) sheep, goats, etc. fig.  a. A spiritual guardian or pastor of a ‘flock’; = pastor n. b. In Biblical use, applied to God in relation to Israel or the Church; also to Christ (esp. with reference to John x. 12).
4. As a shepherd, Jesus guards, tends, and herds His flock.
5. Jesus has a flock of sheep, His elect (Joh 10:27-29).
6. Jesus knows His sheep (Joh 10:14).
7. Jesus feeds His flock (Joh 10:9).
8. Jesus feeds them with eternal sustenance (Joh 6:32-35, 48-51).
9. Jesus will feed His people for all eternity (Rev 7:17).

iii.    Jesus also feeds them with knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15; Eph 4:20-21).

1. Jesus does this in part by using His pastors to feed them in His stead (Eph 4:11-12; Jer 23:4; Ecc 12:11).
2. They are to feed the flock of God as shepherds (Joh 21:15-17; 1Pe 5:1-2; Act 20:28).
3. “…he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,…”
4. Jesus gathers his sheep into the sheepfold where he protects them (Joh 10:10-12).
5. As a good shepherd, Jesus laid down His life for His sheep (Joh 10:11,15).
6. Jesus came to save and minister to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mat 15:24).
7. As a good shepherd, Jesus will leave the flock and go find His lost sheep and bring it back in His arms (Mat 18:11-14 c/w Luk 15:4-7).
8. Jesus will uphold us with His hand (Isa 41:10).
9. Jesus will be with us through our trials and hardships (Isa 43:2).
10. Jesus will carry us even down to our old age (Isa 46:4).
11. None can pluck Jesus’ sheep out of His hand (Joh 10:27-29).
12. God carries His people in His bosom (Isa 40:11).
13. Jesus is in the bosom of the Father (Joh 1:18) and we are there too since we are in Him (Eph 1:4).
14. John leaning on Jesus’ bosom was a picture of Jesus’ sheep being carried in His bosom (Joh 13:23).
15. “…and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
16. Jesus is gentle and meek (2Co 10:1).
17. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), and Jesus had a full measure of the Spirit (Joh 3:34).
18. Jesus was so gentle that He would not even break a bruised reed (Mat 12:20).

iii.    Pastors must also be gentle and meek with His sheep (2Ti 2:24-25).

1. If they drive the flock too hard, they will die (Gen 33:13).
2. False shepherds are wolves who destroy the flock (Act 20:29-30).
3. False shepherds care not for the sheep (Jer 50:6-7; Joh 10:12-13).
4. Jesus leads His sheep and they follow Him (Joh 10:3-4).
5. Jesus gently leads us by the still waters (Psa 23:1-2).
6. Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light (Mat 11:28-30).