Isaiah 53:6

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all

To fall on Him.

 

This verse really contains 3 different statements:  a statement of condition, a statement of choice, and a statement of solution. 

 

  1. Statement of Condition.  All of us like sheep have gone astray

 

Personally, I’ve never owned any sheep.  So I was a little surprised to learn these things about them.   Sheep are extraordinarily stupid; they have to be led by someone.  They are absolutely helpless to do anything for themselves:  What a perfect analogy to us as Christians!

 

    1. A sheep cannot guide himself.  A cat or a dog can be blindfolded and still find his way home.  But a sheep has no sense of direction and is totally dependent upon the shepherd.  A sheep can get lost in his own pasture or meadow.  Only the Word of God can guide you!

 

    1. A sheep cannot clean himself.  A dog or a cat can lick himself or roll in the grass.  But sheep remain filthy unless cleaned up by the shepherd.  Only Jesus Christ cleans us from our sins!

 

    1. A sheep is a defenseless animal.  Most animals have some form of defense, e.g., tooth, claw, speed, or camouflage.  But the only protection the sheep has is the shepherd. 

 

    1. A sheep is helpless when injured.  A dog or cat can lick his wounds, and the saliva is therapeutic and expressive of his love for another who is wounded.  But the sheep is dependent upon the shepherd to care for his wounds. 

 

    1. The sheep cannot find food or water for himself.  Most animals can smell or detect water and find their own food.  But a sheep must depend upon the shepherd for food and water. 

 

    1. A sheep is easily frightened or panicked.  In the time in which the Bible was written, the shepherd would calm the sheep by the use of his voice or with music.  Fear, worry, and anxiety are removed as one hears the principles of the Word of God.

 

That’s our condition, totally helpless without the Chief Shepherd to guide, clean, defend, heal, feed, and calm us.  Notice, it says that ALL of us are like sheep.  That’s our condition!  The Hebrew word is ta’ah, and it means aimlessly wandering and lost.  That’s our first problem; we are naturally helpless and lost without a shepherd.

 

But our condition is not the only problem!

 

  1. Statement of Volition Each of us has turned to his own way;

From the moment of birth, we are naturally looking to have things our own way!  Is the newborn crying because he’s worried about his mother?! Our needs come first!  We also have a natural tendency to look at our tough situations, and blame others or make excuses.  It can’t be our fault!

 

  1. Statement of Solution.  BUT…

The iniquity of us all has fallen on Jesus Christ on the Cross.  This is the ultimate solution!  There is no sin you can feel guilty about, or worried about, because the solution has been accomplished.

 

Jesus actually provided 2 victories on the Cross:

1.        We are delivered from the penalty of sin (spiritual death.)

2.        We are delivered from the POWER of sin over our life.  We now have a choice: concentrate on our sin, and feel guilty, and try to make up for it in our own power, OR concentrate on the solution, and be free from guilt!

 

God doesn’t want you to be a lost sheep, worried and stressed about problems in your life.  He wants you to be relaxed and happy, confident in the fact that He has provided the solution!