He shall feed His flock

 

by Martin Gaskell

Last Sunday the choir’s virtual choir video was our adaption of “He shall feed His flock from Handel’s Messiah.  By coincidence (not any planning on our part) last Sunday, the second Sunday after Easter, is designated in many churches as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because in some lists of Bible readings it is the Sunday when the gospel passage about Jesus being the Good Shepherd is assigned to be read.

 

Often in the choir we sing songs that have a special meaning to one or more people in the choir.  “He shall feed His flock” is a song that Nancy and Eleanor particularly wanted to do.  Here is what Eleanor says about it:

 

“One thing that is special to me about it is that the words and the melody describe God as gentle and it’s very easy for me to be intimidated by God because he is the Lord of the universe and a king.  It’s hard to visualize God’s power and His gentleness going together.   This song really shows this.  He’s the king of the universe but He’s also caring for His flock tenderly.”

 

Handel’s “He shall feed His flock” featured prominently in a story Eleanor and Nancy had been telling.  It was a story about Lucinda, a woman in a world where they were trying to create a utopian society and to give people everything they needed to flourish, but it was totally naturalistic.  Ultimately, Lucinda was very depressed.  There was all the stuff one supposedly needed, but she felt empty and longing.  One day, Lucinda walked past a house and heard people singing “He shall feed His flock” – something it was illegal to sing.  It sounded to her like the thing that was missing – what she was yearning for – that there was a place to come and find actual rest for her soul.  Even though singing sacred music was forbidden, Lucinda tracked down the music to the song.

 

Eleanor says that what drew her to the song was that it was reminding her that there is a source, there is Jesus, and He is at the center of everything that is fulfillment and rest.