The Ninety And Nine

I would like to talk to you today about

the shepherd and his sheep. At dusk, the

flock would prepare for the night, safe

and content.  Everything good was theirs

for they had stayed close to the shepherd.

Deeply troubled, the shepherd counted

again. There were only ninety and nine.

One lamb was missing, out in darkness

and danger. Leaving the comfort of the

fold, the shepherd committed himself to

the rescue. As the shepherd searched, he

found his lamb held fast in the thicket.

In the arms of the shepherd, the lost sheep

found comfort.

In Chicago years ago, at the end of Dr. D.L

Moody’s sermon on the lost sheep, Ira

Sankey, beloved song writer, sat down at

the organ and began to sing.

Although the road be rough and steep

I go to the desert to find my sheep.

None of the ransomed ever knew.

How deep were the waters crossed.

Nor how dark was the night the Lord

passed through.

Before He found His sheep that were lost

Out in the desert He heard its’ cry.

Sick and helpless and ready to die. . .

The story goes that when Dr. Sankey ended

his song, “tears flowed and wandering souls

returned to the Lord.”

Father, thank you that the Son of Man has

come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Amen.