4th January 2026
The Lord is the good and faithful Shepherd
“He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.”
Jeremiah 31:10 (NIVUK)
These words from the prophet Jeremiah provide comfort to a people wounded, wandering, and weary. They are also words of promise for us today, as the picture of the Lord as a shepherd is as relevant for God’s people in the 21st century as it was when Jeremiah wrote.
When the Lord is portrayed as the good and faithful shepherd, it conveys to us that he is:
The Shepherd who knows the condition of his sheep – A shepherd does not watch the flock from afar. He lives among them. He smells the threats before the sheep do. He sees the injuries long before they cry out. When God says he will watch his flock like a shepherd, he is saying: I know you, I see you, I have not abandoned you. Even when the flock feels scattered, maybe by grief, by fear, or by confusion, God does not lose count. The enemy may try to isolate, but the Shepherd identifies his own. Jesus echoed this truth when he said, ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me’ (John 10:14). You are not unknown to God: you are watched, recognised, and loved by the perfect Shepherd.
The Shepherd who gathers what was scattered – Jeremiah preached to a nation that felt divided and displaced, but God did not let their scattering be the final chapter. The same God who allows scattering is the God who promises gathering. Some may be living in a season of scattering right now where they are experiencing scattered hopes, scattered families, or scattered peace. Into that scattering God speaks a better word: I will gather you again. Not one sheep is left behind (Luke 15:3-7): not the discouraged, not the drifting, not the weak, not the wounded. When humans give up, this Shepherd goes on searching.
The Shepherd who protects his flock – A good shepherd not only gathers, but he also guards. Sheep are not predators: they are prey and they are vulnerable. And so, the Lord not only watches over the flock, but he walks with them. His rod defends us, his staff directs us, and his presence steadies us (Psalm 23). No wolf outruns the Lord, no night is darker than his care, no danger is greater than him.
The Shepherd who leads with tenderness – Earthly shepherds sometimes drive sheep with force. But God leads his flock with mercy and patience, imploring us to stay near because he will carry us when we can’t walk (Isaiah 40:11). Some of us today are lambs in need of being carried, and the Lord still makes this promise: I will hold you, I will keep you, I will watch you, and I will bring you home (Jeremiah 31:10).
So, let’s be encouraged – you may have been scattered, but you are not forsaken. You may feel small, but you are watched by the Lord. You may be surrounded by threats, but you are shielded by the Shepherd King. The Lord is watching over his flock.
Prayer
Lord, Shepherd of our souls, gather every heart that feels scattered. Heal every wound, guard every step, and lead us in your peace. Remind us that we are your flock, and you are our keeper. We can walk forward unshaken, not because we are strong, but because you are our good and faithful Shepherd. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
|
Study by: Barry Robinson About the author: |
|
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church