1 Peter 2:24-25: He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

As we heard in the sermon this morning, Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of the Suffering Servant, who suffered in silence, who did not revile, who committed no sin and in whose mouth there was no deceit. In Isaiah, this is part of a long passage that describes Israel’s restoration from Babylonian exile. Through the suffering of the Servant of Yahweh, who is the embodiment of Israel, Israel will be restored to favor with Yahweh and will return to her land.

That theme of return continues in the last verses of the chapter. Peter describes his readers as sheep who have been going astray, wandering on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, who have now been gathered by the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, and gathered to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. We are the people of the return, who have been gathered in the “promised land” of the kingdom of God.

Throughout Isaiah and throughout Scripture, the great sign of this restoration from exile is the feast of the return. Israel is gathered to her shepherd so that she can feast in His presence. Israel is restored to the land, which is the pasture where the flock of God will feed. This table is the great sign that we have been gathered to the Shepherd of our souls who laid down His life for us, and who now leads us to green pastures, to lie down beside still waters.