The shepherd throws stones just outside the ranks of sheep grazing along the hillside. From a distance one can watch with amusement as the act scares the sheep just enough to grab their attention and push them back towards the flock. The gracious action is mixed up with terror and admonishment. The sheep on the inside are safe only because those on the edge are guiding them, guided themselves by the stones and rod of the shepherd.

In the daily life of the church, those considered leaders are found wandering. Perversion, infidelity, and hypocrisy are discovered repeatedly and the sheep on the edge that have been lovingly reoriented toward the savior meet the scornful eyes of the sheep on the inside that have been protected from similar harm.

We do not realize that we would be Judas, save the grace of God. We scorn the leading sheep and in doing so, scorn the care of the Shepherd himself. Seeing the continual work of Christ, we trade it for the lust and pride of thirty silver coins. Is it no wonder that every day his lovingkindness, literally pursuing love, must be in action on our behalf. Because of Christ we are like Peter: boastful in ourselves, found constantly rejecting the name of Christ, yet pursued by his love to be reunited with the church. For those on the outside, that pursuing love is seen is stones falling all around. For those on the inside, that pursuing love often comes through the care of the leading sheep guarding us from wandering.

Look down from heaven and see,

from your holy and beautiful habitation.

Where are your zeal and your might?

The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion

are held back from me.

16 For you are our Father,

though Abraham does not know us,

and Israel does not acknowledge us;

you, O LORD, are our Father,

our Redeemer from of old is your name.

17 O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways

and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?

Return for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your heritage.

18 Your holy people held possession for a little while;

our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.

19 We have become like those over whom you have never ruled,

like those who are not called by your name.

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,

that the mountains might quake at your presence—

2 as when fire kindles brushwood

and the fire causes water to boil—

to make your name known to your adversaries,

and that the nations might tremble at your presence!

3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for,

you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

4 From of old no one has heard

or perceived by the ear,

no eye has seen a God besides you,

who acts for those who wait for him.

5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,

those who remember you in your ways.

Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;

in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?

6 We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

We all fade like a leaf,

and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

7 There is no one who calls upon your name,

who rouses himself to take hold of you;

for you have hidden your face from us,

and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.

8 But now, O LORD, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

9 Be not so terribly angry, O LORD,

and remember not iniquity forever.

Behold, please look, we are all your people.