Learned a new theological term this Fall in our study of the attributes of God – simplicity. God’s simplicity, or to use a more modern term His unity, asserts that God is not a composition of His attributes but that He is His attributes. That there are not many parts to God but that God is One (Deut. 6:4), and all that God is He is fully and wholly. He is not part holy, part love, and part justice. But God is fully and wholly holy while being fully and wholly love while being fully and wholly just. There isn’t a God of the Old Testament and a God of the New. And simplicity is essential to affirming that in His triune being He is not three gods but one God, fully and wholly Father, Son, and Spirit. Simple. Right?

This came to mind this morning as I hovered over Revelation 7. For here I am reminded that not only is God not many parts, but He also doesn’t temporarily play parts. Especially when it comes to God the Son.

For example, Jesus didn’t step into the role of sacrificial Lamb, do what needed to be done, and then step out. Even in glory John sees Him as “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Rev. 5:6).

Nor, as I read this morning, is our Great Shepherd but a temporary shepherd. But He is our shepherd forever.

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water . . . ”

(Revelation 7:17a ESV)

The LORD is my shepherd, wrote David (Ps. 23:1). I am the good shepherd, said Jesus (Jn. 10:11,14). And, says the one invited to enter “a door standing open in heaven” (Rev. 4:1), the Lamb in the midst of the throne will, even in heaven, be their shepherd.

Jesus wasn’t just playing a part on earth as the shepherd. Not some temporary role while Immanuel. But Jesus is — yesterday, today, and forever — our shepherd. And He will guide us even through the glories of heaven. He will for eternity provide for us living water. He will always make us to lie down in green pastures.

Forever we will behold the Shepherd. Forever we will be led by the Shepherd.

Fully God, fully man. Fully Lord, fully Lamb.

Our God is one God. Eternal. Without beginning, without end. Both in His essence and in His presence.

Forever our Shepherd.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

To God simply be the glory.