The last verse, 176, in the longest Psalm, 119, is where the psalmist extols the wonders of God’s Word, he ends with a most beautiful and HOPE filled promise of RESCUE. A rescue by the hands, of the very great and Good Shepherd.

“I have gone strayed like a lost sheep. (Confession)
                                                             Seek your servant, (Prayer)
                                                                                                             or I have not forgotten your commands.” (Rescue)
Psalm 119:176, NKJV.

And Jesus in Luke 15:1-7 speaks as the Good Shepherd walking among men, the sheep who’ve ALL “gone astray…” reminding the SELF-Proclaimed “Right Ones” — the self-professed Law Keepers, that the Good Shepherd chases after the one’s who’ve “Gone Astray,” the SELF-Confessed — Law Breakers.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
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? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 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.” (Luke 15:1-7, NIV)

Note: this joyous REALITY, as we step towards Christmas…

This good confession, “I have gone strayed like a lost sheep,” ends in Salvation for the sinner and most importantly, with God REJOICING and exclaiming, “I have found my lost sheep.”

So…We have choice to LIVE in.

We can be the Self-Proclaiming — Law Keeper, who claims to be without sin; or we can be the Self-Confessing — Law Breaker, who owns their sin.