February 17, 2022 -- Psalm 119:173-176 -- Amazing love for straying, wandering sheep

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Let your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.
Psalm 119:173-176 ESV

Notice how the Psalmist speaks of the tender care of God. He is trusting the God of Salvation to help him. In fact he prays this with such confidence because the Promise-Keeping God has proved Himself faithful to this man. In fact, God has proved this faithfulness over and over again. At the end of this long Psalm, one would expect the writer to finish on a high note, claiming victory and confidence in his walk with God. Instead there is the jarring confession of verse 176—I have gone astray like a lost sheep.

Not that long ago some of the men who I’d spent much time with and often prayed with and prayed for decided to go astray. It was very painful. These are men who I genuinely care about and spent much time with in conversation, bible study, prayer and social time. If just three men could impact me this much that I grieve and struggle and feel pain, suddenly the merciful kindness and love of God—Who is persistent in seeking us—was highlighted. He has the whole population of the planet in His Sovereign care. He is tender-hearted to billions. At the same moment another thought hit me: I am as much a wandering sheep as these others. What great love the Father has for us that we should be called His sons and daughters. What amazing love and patience the Father has for us, and for the people of this planet! 

How amazing God is that He should send His Spirit to guard His sheep from irreparable harm and He has sent His Son, the Good Shepherd of Souls to bring us back to Himself.

I really was humbled this morning at the thought of this.

I was really brought to my knees in praise of God and in renewed passion to pray for those who are currently going astray like lost sheep. As I type this, I have been renewed in my praise and thanks to God for those who prayed for me when I was in my times of wandering.

The goodness and love and blessing and might of the LORD of Hosts is displayed in the fact that He is our rescue story; He is our song of victory; He is all our boast.

Who is like You, O God our Father? That is easy to answer—there is none in the great expanses of the cosmos, on the earth or under the earth or in the depths of seas. You alone are Great and Glorious, worthy of all praise and thanksgiving. Thank You for never giving up on us, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. Thank You for raising up prayer warriors, who are led in this work as they look to Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation and the One True, Praying-Mediator. Humbled and aware at Your throne of grace of how much kindness and mercy we ourselves have received, we pray, with renewed zeal and hope for those who are currently going astray. Seek Your servants, rescue Your straying sheep—as we anticipate their return and receive others known to You and unexpected to us, yes all of us together may bless You and freed from all vanity praise You. This to the praise of Jesus and in His Name we pray—Amen.

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