Bellwether

NewSong builds the whole song around a term most listeners won't already know: "every shepherd has a sheep that he calls the bellwether, and everywhere the shepherd goes he's with him." The song explains its own metaphor before using it.

"The bellwether walks with the lost sheep, spends his time with those who have roamed, and when he returns to the shepherd, one by one, they follow him home" describes the actual job — not staying close to the shepherd for safety, but going out after the ones who wandered.

"God's only son left His throne to become our bellwether, His life He gave to seek and save the lost sheep" makes the metaphor's identity explicit, and "the perfect lamb who knew no sin said 'here am I, send me'" borrows Isaiah's own response to God's call almost word for word, applied here to Christ's willingness to go first.

"Now He waits for me and you to take them the good news" turns the metaphor outward in the final verse — the bellwether's job isn't finished with the first rescue, it's handed off to whoever hears the song next.