Beginnings
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Judges
JoshuaJudgesRuth
Kingdoms
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings
Chronicles
1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther
Poetry
JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon
Prophets
IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel
Minor Prophets
HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicah
NahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi
Messiah
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs
Paul's Letters
Romans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrews
General Letters
James1 Peter2 Peter1 John
2 John3 JohnJude
Revelation
Revelation
Kept for this visit
Notes, starred verses and bookmarks kept while signed out last until this visit ends. Create a free account and everything you keep here moves into it, saved for good.
Create an account Sign in

Morning and Evening

August 19, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord." — Micah 5:4 · KJV

Christ's reign in His church is that of a shepherd-king. He has supremacy, but it is the supremacy of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock; He commands and receives obedience, but it is the willing obedience of well-cared-for sheep, given gladly to their beloved Shepherd, whose voice they know so well. He rules by the force of love and the energy of goodness. His reign is practical in character: it is said, "He shall stand and feed." The great Head of the church is actively engaged in providing for His people; He does not sit on the throne in empty state, or hold a scepter without wielding it in government — He stands and feeds. The word "feed" in the original is like the Greek term for shepherding: to do everything expected of a shepherd — to guide, watch, preserve, restore, and tend, as well as to feed. His reign is continual in duration: it is said, "He shall stand and feed," not "He shall feed now and then and leave His post," not "He shall grant a revival one day and leave His church barren the next." His eyes never slumber and His hands never rest; His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders never weary of carrying His people's burdens. His reign is effectually powerful in action: "He shall feed in the strength of Yahweh." Wherever Christ is, there is God, and whatever Christ does is the act of the Most High. Oh, what a joyful truth, that He who stands today representing His people's interests is very God of very God, before whom every knee shall bow! Happy are we who belong to such a Shepherd, whose humanity communes with us and whose divinity protects us. Let us worship and bow down before Him as the people of His pasture.