For “you were like sheep going astray,”but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. [1 Peter 2:25]
One of the most significant theological concepts in all of Scripture is the division of the Kingdom of Israel into two distinct houses — the House of Israel (Ephraim) and the House of Judah. This division took place after the death of King Solomon and persisted until the northern House of Israel was exiled from the land, scattered and assimilated into the nations, and permanently estranged from God [see Hosea 1-2].
The House of Judah (aka the Jews), however, were not divorced from the LORD and even though having been exiled into Babylon, the Jews retained their identity and returned to the land, which paved the way for the coming of the Son of David — Jesus the Messiah.
Once on the scene, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. In John 10, Jesus specifically makes reference to the separation of these two houses, or kingdoms. He came first for the Jews, but His mission did not stop there. Jesus sent out His followers to make disciples of all nations, which is precisely where the lost sheep of the House of Israel had been scattered and lost.
“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.“ [John 10:14-16]
Notice that the mission of Jesus was in effect to bring both of these houses — Jew and Gentile — back together into one fold and under one Shepherd.
The prophets and the Apostles often speak of this redemptive plan of God to reunite God’s covenant people. Here are just a few examples.
“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you—one from a city and two from a family—and bring you to Zion. 15Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding … 17At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. 18In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave to your fathers as an inheritance.“ [Jeremiah 3:14-15, 17-18]
“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will put them together with the stick of Judah. I will make them into a single stick, and they will become one in My hand.’ 20When the sticks on which you write are in your hand and in full view of the people, 21you are to tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the Israelites out of the nations to which they have gone, and I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land. 22I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them. Then they will no longer be two nations and will never again be divided into two kingdoms.“ [Ezekiel 37:19-22]
As you can see, the mission of Jesus our Good Shepherd has always been about reuniting the two houses into one Kingdom.
To learn more about this fascinating topic, please view and share the following teaching from 1 Peter 2.
Days of Noah 