Beneath the rugged cliffs of Brora, Scotland, a sheep needed rescue. Trapped at the base of a cliff, surrounded by steep and unyielding rock on one side and the vast ocean on the other, the sheep had been on its own for two long years. Despite several rescue attempts, no one could reach her until a determined farmer named Cammy Wilson and four friends successfully executed a risky rescue mission. Three members of the team carefully descended nearly 820 feet down the cliff to get her, using a winch and a lot of courage to lift her out of her predicament.
The determined and sympathetic farmer and team reflect the compassion of our loving Father as depicted in Jeremiah 23:1-3. The prophet denounced Judah’s sinful leaders as shepherds who were “destroying and scattering the sheep of [God’s] pasture!” (v. 1). God declared through Jeremiah that—due to the ruthless way they treated His helpless people—He’d “bestow punishment” on them (v. 2). He saw the plight of His scattered flock and was deeply concerned about them. Not only was God concerned, but He also said He’d lovingly regather His sheep from places of exile and bring them to a place of safety and abundance (v. 3).
When we feel lost, trapped, or isolated, our heavenly Father sees our plight and won’t leave us stranded. He actively seeks to rescue and restore us.
In what ways are you spiritually trapped and isolated? How does it encourage you to know God sees your challenge?
Heavenly Father, thank You for being my Good Shepherd.
For further study, read Hope in Sorrow.
When describing the coming king who would shepherd God’s people in the way their corrupt leaders hadn’t (Jeremiah 23:1), Jeremiah said this king would be called “The Lord Our Righteous Savior” (v. 6). In Hebrew, this title is very similar to the name Zedekiah, the last king of Judah (52:1), which means, “Yah(weh) is righteousness.” This name suggested Zedekiah was meant to be a king who’d rule in a way that reflected God’s justice. But King Zedekiah utterly failed his people, disobeying God’s instructions with severe consequences (vv. 1-3). So Jeremiah emphasized that despite’s Zedekiah’s failures, God would enact justice and rescue for His people through the promised coming king.
