Beauty and Bands of the Gospel



"I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock." -ZECHARIAH 11:7 [KJV]


In this chapter the Lord gives us a contrast between the idol, foolish and false shepherds (Zech.11:15-17) and the Great (Heb. 13:20), Good (John 10:14) and Chief Shepherd (1Peter 5:4) of the flock, the Lord Jesus Christ. We see the charge given to the true Shepherd of Israel in verse 4, "Thus saith the LORD my God; feed the flock of the slaughter." Here we see the Lord Jesus Christ as our Surety and Mediator of the covenant of grace ready to undertake and carry out all the responsibility given to Him by the Father, to redeem His elect and secure their salvation (Matt. 1:21; Heb. 7:22). Now in verse 7 we see the Lord Jesus answers back with firm resolve, "I will feed the flock of slaughter," that is He will care, provide, shelter, lead and instruct the "poor of the flock," into green pastures of truth and righteousness (Psalm 23:1-4). The Lord Jesus describes the two staffs that He employs to feed and redeem the flock, "the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands." Let's consider the Beauty and Bands of the gospel.

1). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the very Beauty (splendor, delight and grace) revealed in the Word of truth (Zech. 9:17). How beautiful, pleasant and powerful are all the doctrines of the gospel as they are revealed and made known in Christ (2 Cor. 4:6; Rom. 1:16-17). His blessed person, "Altogether lovely" (Song of Sol. 5:16), to you who believe He is most Precious (1 Peter 2:7). His blessed redeeming and effectual high priestly work, He gave Himself for our sin, as substitute and sacrifice according to the scriptures, the revealed will of God (Eph. 1:7; 5:2, 25-27; Heb. 9:11-12; 10:14-17; 1 John 4:10).

2). The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is the very Bands (binder, pledge, token and uniting force) of the gospel of grace (John 6:44-45; 2 Tim. 1:9). The gospel when revealed to our heart, in the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit binds and unites our soul and heart affection unto the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3:1-3). David put it this way, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth" (Psalm 110:3). That is how the Lord effectually and irresistibly draws us to Himself; our regenerated heart is drawn to His Loveliness and Beauty. We are made to see our own righteousness as filthy rags and count it as dung (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:7-9) and we are made to see His glorious righteousness imputed to us as the only ground of justification before God (Rom. 4:6; 10:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:6).


-Gospel report by preacher Tom Harding



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