Psalms 31:1-3, 8:1, and 16:2

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Isaiah 56. The Mind of the Spirit met the spirit of my mind in verse 10-11:

Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

The LORD is describing His “watchmen,” the shepherds appointed to feed and protect the flock (1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28). He accuses them of being “blind, and cannot see afar off” (2 Peter 1:9). They failed to add to their faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to that patience. To patience, they did not add godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to all of this charity (2 Peter 1:5-8). Lacking these things, the watchman is blind and cannot see the lion on the prowl, looking for sheep he might devour (1 Peter 5:8).

It’s worse! These watchmen are not only blind, but they preach a message that makes His sheep prey: “Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” The “properity preacher” seduces Christ’s sheep to join them in wine and strong drink (Proverbs 23:29-33) and refuses to exhort them, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

He called them “dumb dogs” that “cannot bark,” and “greedy dogs,” that “cannot get enough”: “Shepherds that cannot understand” (Ignorant), who “look to their own way, every one for his gain” (Greedy).

Along the still waters, I thought of Paul’s lament: “For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Philippians 2:20-21). They “seek their own” (Greedy—belly servers: Philippians 3:18-19), they are heedless of the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ignorant—Ephesians 3:8; see Philippians 4:19; Colossians 2:2; Matthew 6:33). Paul was otherwise minded: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8, See 3:4-8)

What good is a blind watchman, and a dog, a sheep dog, that cannot bark? As valuable as an ignorant belly-serving shepherd.

Jesus has appointed all His disciples to be ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), and we each have a watch: “watch and pray,” He said (Mark 13:33; and Matthew 26:41). If we fail, our watch will become prey.

In the valley, our Shepherd came looking for likeminded shepherds (Philippians 2:5-11). He called, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I answered, and He joined me to His yoke, the Cross. Surprised how easy is the yoke and how light the burden when yoked with Christ (Galatians 2:20) and pulling His burden (Matthew 11:30). Selah!

At the table, Jesus reminded me that while all His disciples are called to watch, those set apart for the ministry have the greater responsibility, for they watch over the souls of all the flock of God and will give an account for each (Hebrews 13:17; Acts 20:28).

Praying for revival! 🙏