Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young Isaiah 40:10–11 esv
Have you ever given much thought to God’s arms? (“God has arms?” you might be wondering.) When God describes His arms, He doesn’t tell us their circumference or how much He can lift—those are human, physical terms, like the jock showing off at the gym. But God’s description of His arms tells us some awesome things about Him. In fact, the dual description of God’s arms in this passage shows us His power and His comfort.
“Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him.” When the Bible talks about God’s right arm, it refers to His powerful, ruling arm—His justice, His holiness, and His strength. God is like that. He is all that and more.
But then the very next verse describes His tender shepherd arm. “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” If you’ve spent any time in church, sadly you’ve probably heard one extreme or the other: a ton of preaching about the transcendent, holy, awesome Judge or a ton of preaching about the tender, loving, merciful Shepherd. But He’s both, right? In this passage we clearly see both. Don’t let God’s nearness minimize His transcendence nor let His transcendence make you think He isn’t very aware of you individually.
Imagine a shepherd in the fields, and this gives you a picture of God. A shepherd can oversee hundreds of sheep, but he holds only one at a time. He gathers the lambs one by one in his arms. The point here is that this awesome God cares for you. Personally. Individually. Yes, He’s guarding a big flock, but when He cares for the lambs, He tends to them one by one. This is God’s love for you. Personal. Individual. Attentive. Aware. Devoted. That’s how He cares for you.
When He carries His lambs, He holds them “in his bosom.” Picture that. He doesn’t hold us awkwardly squirming at arms’ length. No, He draws us close, right to His own heart.
And He will “gently lead those that are with young.” The sheep that is about to give birth is vulnerable, with unique needs. And the shepherd accommodates those needs. In the same way, when our needs are great, the Lord is that much more attentive to us. Some of us are at a point of acute need right now in our business or in our family. God knows what it is. And just as pressing as that need is, His attention matches that. He’s on it! He is right there, gently leading those whose circumstances demand additional care.
So which one is He – mighty or tender? Yes. His arm is a picture of absolute power and unconditional love.
That’s your King. That’s your Shepherd.
Journal
Pray
As I behold You, my Lord God, I am in awe of who You are. You are the King. You rule the universe with Your feet up. Absolute power. You are also my Shepherd. You lovingly hold me close and tend to my heart. Absolute love. Open my eyes that I may see You more clearly, and stir in me fresh worship and love for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Finding God in a Crisis – Remember His Presence, Peace, Power
Psalm 46
It’s time for a psalm of calm.
Even in a world of tumult, the real battle is within: How can you calm your heart when inside you’re a raging storm?
Life’s hardest moments call for more than a quick fix. Turn with me to Psalm 46, as we seek the power of God’s presence.
Eight Steps to Conflict Resolution | Audio Only | Matthew 18:15-17
Joy To The World
Psalm 98
Game Changing Faith
We were thrilled to welcome our dear friend Ted Barrett to speak to the men at Rock Bottom. Ted spent years working as an MLB umpire, he humorously told us, “Jesus loves umpires—because no one else does.“
His journey is truly inspiring, as he shares his path from salvation and learning to follow Jesus, to his time in Major League Baseball, and ultimately answering God’s call to ministry. He even founded a motorcycle club in Phoenix!
Join us to hear Ted Barrett’s powerful testimony and discover how God wants to use each and every one of us!
Rejecting Shame | Genesis 3
What is the opposite of love?
While love fills our souls, uplifts our minds and brings us joy, there is one particular emotion that stands in stark contrast – and this message from Rock Bottom has the answer. If you’re struggling in your spirit with the fallout of your choices, don’t miss it…
The Glory of Love | John 13:31-38
5 Responses To The Gospel of Jesus Christ | John 11:45-53
Salvation Evidence | John 3:17-36
Jesus Christ, the Glory of God: Believe Him | John 2:1-12