Savior Like a Shepherd / The King of Love (Fernando Ortega)

We are delivered hard lessons in life, hard, redemptive lessons, the likes of which are recounted in Psalm 78. These came upon an entire nation. They would wander, rebel, stumble, suffer, and repent, get up, be blessed, and sin again. "In spite of all this, they went on sinning * and had no faith in his wonderful works." (v.32) In what ways is sin reduced to having no faith? Sin - judgement - repentance - blessing - sin. When does God get enough? The section ends with " But he was so merciful that he forgave their sins and did not destroy them; many times he held back his anger and did not permit his wrath to be roused. For he remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that goes forth and does not return. (38-39) Then, the psalm goes on and the pattern continues and intensifies until it crescendos in the time of its composition with a surprising summary of grace: God sent them a shepherd with a servant's heart. That was His answer, a shepherd. "So he shepherded them with a faithful and true heart * and guided them with the skillfulness of his hands." (72) And in our time, following the Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, we sing, "Savior, like a shepherd lead us. Much we need Thy tender care." What condemnation of our wicked ways and recurring patterns of sin-judgment-repentance, could not do for us, He does with His own voice and walking alongside of us.