Follow in the Tracks of the Flock
Notes
Transcript
1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Slide
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
Introduction
Come now to the first comments made by Solomon. He speaks in very gracious and loving way. Some say that it is the friends that are speaking here and do so a very sarcastic manner. Others that Solomon is expressing deep anger.
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1. Mild Rebuke
1. Mild Rebuke
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
If you do not know
She should know but he does not condemn because she does not.
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2. Affection
2. Affection
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
O most beautiful among women
He does not see her as she sees herself.
He calls her O fairest among women, or ‘most beautiful’. It is a superlative, and provides an exquisite contrast with the Shulamite’s anxious and self-deprecating view of herself back in verses 5–6.
17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
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3. Clear Direction
3. Clear Direction
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
Follow in the tracks of the flock.
Tells her clearly where she must go.
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4. Assured Security
4. Assured Security
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
Pasture your young goats beside the shepherds tents
She was given full access to all the benefits of being one of Solomon’s shepherds.
We turn now to what we see of Christ’s love for us
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1. Mild Rebuke
1. Mild Rebuke
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
If you yourself do not know
She should know but he does not condemn because she does not.
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How slow and foolish we are so much of the time to realise the unspeakable blessings and privileges that are ours in Christ. We are ‘complete in him’ (Col. 2:10). ‘And of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace’ (John 1:16). Why should we be wondering where he is, when he has told us where to find him? Richard Brooks
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
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2. Affection
2. Affection
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
O most beautiful among women
He does not see her as she sees herself.
He calls her O fairest among women, or ‘most beautiful’. It is a superlative, and provides an exquisite contrast with the Shulamite’s anxious and self-deprecating view of herself back in verses 5–6.
Slide
The Lord Jesus Christ sees a beauty in his bride, even if we do not. Indeed, the bride’s beauty is one of the continual themes of the Song. Her very consciousness of her own shortfalls and defects constitutes a part of her beauty in his eyes; believers are fairest in Christ’s eyes when they are darkest in their own. Richard Brooks
4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house, 11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.
Ezekiel 16:14 (ESV)
14 And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God.
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3. Clear Direction
3. Clear Direction
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
Follow in the tracks of the flock.
Tells her clearly where she must go.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
John 10:16 (ESV)
16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.
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4. Assured Security
4. Assured Security
8 If you do not know, O most beautiful among women, follow in the tracks of the flock, and pasture your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
Pasture your young goats beside the shepherds tents
She was given full access to all the benefits of being one of Solomon’s shepherds.
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
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Conclusion
It will not serve to sit still and cry, “Lord, show me the way,” but we must bestir ourselves to enquire out the way; and we may find it by looking which way the footsteps of the flock lead, what has been the practice of godly people all along; let that practice be ours, Matthew Henry
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21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.