1
Shepherd the flock with tender, loving care.
Shepherd by life and one another bear.
Like Christ, who sought us, brought us to His keep,
Cherish the flock He loves and feed His sheep!
Shepherd by life and one another bear.
Like Christ, who sought us, brought us to His keep,
Cherish the flock He loves and feed His sheep!
2
Tend to His sheep and care for all their needs!
Bring God’s supply, which out of love proceeds!
Reach those whose burdens seem too much to bear!
Nurture their heart and soul through loving care!
Bring God’s supply, which out of love proceeds!
Reach those whose burdens seem too much to bear!
Nurture their heart and soul through loving care!
3
Our Father’s care meets every inward need,
Binds all our wounds till we are buoyant, freed.
His tender love heals broken, wounded hearts,
Restores communion and His life imparts.
Binds all our wounds till we are buoyant, freed.
His tender love heals broken, wounded hearts,
Restores communion and His life imparts.
4
Day after day, by taking in the Word,
We’re nourished and, believing, reassured,
Shepherded by the Lord subjectively,
Proof God is caring for us tenderly.
We’re nourished and, believing, reassured,
Shepherded by the Lord subjectively,
Proof God is caring for us tenderly.
5
Have we not found green pastures, there to lay,
Waters of rest, with paths to mark our way?
Led through the valley, guided inwardly,
Come to the Father’s presence joyfully!
Waters of rest, with paths to mark our way?
Led through the valley, guided inwardly,
Come to the Father’s presence joyfully!
6
Mountains majestic, streams with cataracts!
Christ as our joy protects us from attacks!
Rescued, uplifted with sustaining pow’r,
We shelter in His presence hour by hour!
Christ as our joy protects us from attacks!
Rescued, uplifted with sustaining pow’r,
We shelter in His presence hour by hour!
7
God’s heart toward us is good in every way.
Are we His match in all we do and say,
Stewards, whose hearts the love of Christ constrains,
Who minister the food that builds the saints?
Are we His match in all we do and say,
Stewards, whose hearts the love of Christ constrains,
Who minister the food that builds the saints?
8
Shepherding needs the maintenance of life,
The cross annulling selfishness and strife,
Prayers full of light that set our hearts ablaze,
Till every word we speak God’s love conveys!
The cross annulling selfishness and strife,
Prayers full of light that set our hearts ablaze,
Till every word we speak God’s love conveys!
9
Treasure the saints! Each one is such a gift!
Obey our King to mend each inward rift!
Honor the Body, holding to the Head,
His covenant of peace the way we’re led!
Obey our King to mend each inward rift!
Honor the Body, holding to the Head,
His covenant of peace the way we’re led!
10
Our words and actions are the gateway in;
Live Christ by speaking, building to begin!
Shoulder the lost and rescue the forlorn!
Stitch upon stitch, our wedding gown adorn.
Live Christ by speaking, building to begin!
Shoulder the lost and rescue the forlorn!
Stitch upon stitch, our wedding gown adorn.
11
What righteousness does shepherding display!
The flock is cared for, cherished in this way!
The Father loves us as He loves the Son,
His love the bond that joins us all as one!
The flock is cared for, cherished in this way!
The Father loves us as He loves the Son,
His love the bond that joins us all as one!
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San Diego, California, United States
Over 12 years ago, in my early 60s, something highly unusual happened that greatly angered me, to the point that I uncharacteristically set out on a brisk walk around the block to pour out my frustration and complaint to the Lord. It eventually led to me asking Him for someone nearby to shepherd. I did not regard myself adequately equipped to shepherd anyone but I was very mindful of how many years the Lord had faithfully nourished and cherished His flock and I concluded that at least I could help a younger one in my limited capacity. A few weeks later, the answer to my prayer came and to this day, the relationship continues, a sweet testimony of His shepherding care of us both.
I remembered how deeply I was touched during the Jeremiah training that Jehovah said in Jer 3:15a "And I will give you shepherds according to My own heart". Then years later during the 2025 summer training we heard the wonderful words that Christ, who lives in us, "is the good Shepherd, the great Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd, and the Shepherd of our souls." "The more we are constituted with Christ, the more we will spontaneously live a shepherding life and have the burden to take care of others." (Ref The Ministry of the Word, Vol 29, No 7, page 250. ) Praise the Lord, "we are both sheep and shepherds, shepherding and being shepherded in mutuality;" (See verses for the above references on page 250 also. )
Spokane, WA, United States
I really enjoyed how much this song has the realization that our shepherding comes out of our being nourished by our subjective experience of Christ in the word. Our tender loving care of others comes from joining into Christ our chief shepherd’s tender care of others. It is also our way, stitch by stitch, to prepare our wedding garment. And I treasured also the last two lines. The father loves us as he loves the Son, his love, the bond that joins us all as one!
Spokane, Washington, United States
This is my favorite song. :)