David was a shepherd and had a shepherd's heart. One day, as he faithfully kept his father's sheep, a lion came and took a lamb out of the flock. This stirred David's heart and he "went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him." 1 Sam. 17:3535And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. (1 Samuel 17:35). Thus David risked his own life to save one little lamb of his father's flock. It was helpless against a mighty lion; but David, in the power of God, was mightier and delivered the lamb.
The Good Shepherd, of whom David was but a type, also kept His Father's sheep. He said, "My Father... gave them Me." They too had a mighty foe, the roaring lion, and needed deliverance; this the Good Shepherd was prepared to accomplish, but to do so He had to give His life. The mighty "roaring lion" roared against Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, but He resisted unto blood. There He weighed what it would be to be made sin, what it would cost Him to deliver those helpless, but guilty sheep and lambs. He took the bitter cup as from His Father's hand and came forth serenely to meet an armed mob.
This blessed One had said, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11). Nothing short of death would meet their need and deliver the sheep; in order to save them He must go all the way into death. This He did on that center cross on the hill called Calvary; in those three terrible hours of darkness He suffered for the sins of the guilty sheep, and then went down into death in order that He might overcome that mighty foe who had the power of death, and deliver the sheep "who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:1515And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15).
"His be 'the Victor's name'
Who fought the fight alone;
Triumphant saints no honor claim,
His conquest was their own.
By weakness and defeat
He won the meed and crown,
Trod all our foes beneath His feet
By being trodden down."
And now as the blessed result He gives the sheep "eternal life," and He Himself has said, "and they shall never perish." What glorious fruit of the work of the Good Shepherd—eternal life! never perish! He who gave Himself for the sheep has pledged Himself for their safety; that is, He holds them securely in His hand, where none can ever seize them. And more than that: "My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man [literally, "no one"—man or devil] is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." John 10:29, 3029My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one. (John 10:29‑30). The Owner and the Shepherd of the sheep are one. What security!