Many of you are familiar with the song "The Ninety and Nine." The poem was written by Elizabeth Clephane in the 1800s. Ira Sankey, music director for evangelist Dwight L. Moody, wrote the music. Folklore claims that Elizabeth wrote "The Ninety and Nine" for her brother who had "returned to the flock" only a short time before his death. The song is based on Jesus' parable in Luke 15:
"Then Jesus told them this parable: 'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Sankey spotted the words in a British newspaper while on an evangelism tour in Scotland with Dwight Moody. He tore the poem from the paper, put it in his pocket, and forgot about it. Later that day, at the end of their service in Edinburgh, Moody asked Sankey for a closing song. Ira was caught by surprise, but the Holy Spirit reminded him of the poem in his pocket. He brought it out, said a prayer, then composed the tune as he sang. Thus was born “The Ninety and Nine.” This was Sankey’s first attempt at writing a hymn tune.
Who is your own sheep who is lost? Jesus will search for your sheep who is crying and lost. And there will be great rejoicing, not only in your heart, but by the angels in heaven. Consider the words once again, or for the first time:
"There were ninety and nine that safely lay, In the shelter of the fold.
But one was out on the hills away, Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare, Away from the tender Shepherd’s care,
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer: 'This of Mine, Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep, I go to the desert to find My sheep.'
"But none of the ransomed ever knew, How deep were the waters crossed;
Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through, Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry, Sick and helpless and ready to die;
Sick and helpless and ready to die.
“Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way, That mark out the mountain’s track?
They were shed for one who had gone astray, Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.
Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn? They are pierced tonight by many a thorn;
They are pierced tonight by many a thorn.
"And all through the mountains, thunder riven, And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of Heaven, 'Rejoice! I have found My sheep!'
And the angels echoed around the throne, 'Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!'"
Never give up hope. Our God is faithful. To all of us who believe, our own little sheep is worth our time on our knees. Our God not only hears prayer but also loves to hear it.
"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy." Psalm 130:1-2
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