Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-03-15

copyright, 1899. by d. NJ. Stearns.l
The misconduct of the scribes and
Pharisees, who ought to have been the
faithful shepherds of the people, brings to
mind the words by the prophets, notably in
Jer. xiii and Eek. xxxiv. Unfaithfulness
and unbelief seem to prevail in all ages in
the protesting people of God. BY the gate
of Eden, with its sword and sacrifice; by
the gate and door and veil of the taber-
nacle He taught the people the only way
of access to Himself. He now reminds
them of it and says that all other ways are
invented by those who would rob God of
His honor
Q. The true shepherd accepts Gods way
and knows no other. Like Noah build
ing the ark or Moses the tabernacle, he
has no suggestions to make, but simply
obeys God implicitly. He does not ap
point himself to office, but God calls him
and appoints him, as He did Moses and
Joshua and Samuel. Isaiah, Jeremiah and
Ezekiel, the apostles and all who are will
ing to be wholly subject to Him.
3. His voice is recognized as the voice of
one in authority, and He Is followed and
trusted. He said to Moses, Thou hast
found grace in my sight, and know thee
by name eek. xxxiii, ~. Through Isaiah
He said, Fear not, for have redeemed
thee, have called thee by thy name, thou
art mine Elsa. xiii, u.
4. A great many people who bear His
name and seem to be doing His work do
not understand this, for they complain of
not being able to accomplish what they
wish nor get where they desire to go.
There must be misunderstanding some
where, for when we follow where He leads
all should be easy, and when He goes be-
fore He will not leave obstacles in the way
of those whom He leads.
8. Sheep must be wiser than people, for,
while sheep will not follow stranger,
many who call themselves Christians fol-
low those who do not follow Christ and
yet think they are in the right way. They
do not seem to know the difference be-
tween His voice and that of strangers.
His word is His voice. 1t is true from the
beginning and forever settled in heaven
FPS. cxix, S9).
6. "They understood not" 1t seems a
comparatively simple parable in the light
Of the prophecies we have referred to, but
it was all dark to them, for they were
more full of tradition than of His Word,
the Scriptures. 1t is even SO now, and a
Bible study to those unaccustomed to it is
something very strange. How sadly He
says even to his disciples, Do We not yet
understands How is it that ye do not un-
derstand? (Math. xvi, 9, ~.
2. Now He says plainly, II am the door
of the sheep" The gate Of the garden of
Eden, the gate and door and veil of the
tabernacle. the door of Noah's ark. the en-
trance to the city of refuge, were all typ
ical of Him who is the way and the only
way. There is none other name given un-
der heaven among men whereby We may
be saved (Acts Nv, 49,. Christ told men
to look unto Him and they would be saved.
Christ is God, and when we receive Christ
we receive God. The Son has left on rec
ord that blessed truth, Him that cometh
unto Me will in nowise cast out" John.
vi, 37).
8. All before Him or beside Him were
thieves and robbers. take it that the
expression "All that ever came before me"
has the same thought as in Elk. Xxx, 8,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before
me-" The first thief and robber was sa-
tan, who tried to take Adam and Eve away
from God
o. Again He says that He is the door,
and He speaks of safety and plenty. Not
only is He the door, but He is also our
salvation and our food. He said, "He that
eateth Me, even he shall live by Me"
John vi, 81. Any one may enter in and
find in Him salvation and rest and peace
and plenty.
10. He desires to give life and life
abundantly, while the thief seeks only to
destroy. The father Of all the thieves is
called the adversary, who goeth about
seeking whom he may devour q Pet. v, g.
Christ is our life. When we receive Him,
we have life, and when we let Him fill us
with Himself we have abundance of life.
IL. He says, 81 am the Good Shepherd. T"
Elsewhere He says, or rather is spoken of
as the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shep-
herd (Heb. xiii 90, 81; Pet. v, ~. AS
the Good Shepherd He gives His life for
us that He may save us. AS the Great
Shepherd He works in us the things which
are pleasing to God. AS the Chief Shep-
herd He will reward us at His coming for
the service we have permitted Him to ac-
complish in us.
10. The hireling thinks more of his own
life than the welfare of the sheep. He Is
not one with the Good Shepherd, though
professedly serving Him. This and the
next verse are fully set forth in those chap
ters in jeremiah and Ezekiel, already re-
ferred to- Let each answer for himself as
pastor, teacher or Christian worker, Am
one with the Good Shepherd in self re-
nouncing and self denying labor, seeking
nothing for myself, but only the welfare
Of those with whom He brings me in con-
tact?
49, because he is an hireling." There
may be Christian workers in all positions,
even as missionaries on the foreign field
whose principal thought is their position
and their salary rather than the salvation
of souls and the glory of God.
IA. He knows His sheep, and they know
Him. The Lord knoweth them that are
His. and in the Judgment He will make
no mistake. He weigheth our actions
and regards our thoughts and Is ever
ready to show Himself strong on behalf
of those who trust Him uI Chron. xvi, 81.
He even keeps book for those who think
upon Him (Mal iii, 16).
Is. The Father is wholly occupied with
His Son and with the welfare Of all through
Him. The Son is wholly occupied with
the Father and with seeking the welfare
of all whom the Father has given to Him.
They understand each other perfectly.
They would have us as one with them. as
they are with each other.
49, "Other sheep have" Until after
His resurrection there was no command
to preach except to the Jews, but now the