‘Shepherds’
A frequent theme in the Bible is the need for shepherds of God’s sheep.
Jesus
After a busy day Jesus decided to have a rest with his disciples so they ravelled by boat to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. However when they arrived they were welcomed by a massive crowd who had travelled by land.
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:34
Sheep are important in the Bible because of their value. An English sheep farmer lost two hundred sheep to rustlers. He reckoned they were worth about £30,000. This would be why the shepherd in Luke 15 left the ninety-nine sheep and went to look for the one sheep that had gone astray,
The Bible is clear that all human beings matter to God. Only in atheist and idolatrous regimes are people disposable. Any regime that does not care for people is almost certainly not God-fearing, whatever their claim. How much more valuable are those people who belong to the Lord
It matters very much to God when sheep are scattered and lost. It matters to God when shepherds are hirelings who, when wolves and problems occur, make themselves false. It matters too when shepherds don’t share Jesus’ objective and are not bothered to search for lost sheep. Sheep do not care if a fellow sheep is lost. In our churches there are now many amiable people who call themselves pastors but who have never led anyone to faith in the Lord Jesus and do not appear to have a great desire to do so. It is God and his shepherds who seek the lost, there is no way that men can find God, he has to find us.
C.S.Lewis describes
“Amiable agnostics who talk cheerfully about man’s search for God.”
Jesus saw shepherdless sheep who were abandoned by their false shepherds but were the object of God’s compassion. Their plight is matched by Jesus’ great compassion. Such pity s not a mere sentiment but a genuine concern that results in the raising up of true shepherds that follow their Lord’s example.
Shepherds in the Old Testament
The concept of ‘shepherds’ in the Old Testament is a lofty one. There the shepherds are the kings and rulers and not the priests or prophets.
King Ahab, king of Israel, was a poor shepherd who was unable to discern what was right. He was weak and left decisions to his wife Jezebel and unfortunately she had other agendas than helping the people ti live in a Godly way. On one occasion Ahab wanted to know whether he and King Jehoshaphat of Judah should go to war against the king of Aram. He first listened to ‘about four hundred’ false prophets who recommended war. When finally a true prophet, Micaiah was asked for God’s opinion Micaiah answered,
“I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.” 1 Kings 22:17
It was this phrase that came to Jesus’ mind as he saw five thousand men waiting for him.
One of Ezekiel’s prophecies beautifully expresses the responsibilities God has given to Israel’s shepherd-kings.
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them:
‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.” Ezekiel 34:1-6
Then comes the remarkable prophecy that God himself will come as the good shepherd and he will pastor his sheep.
“ I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” Ezekiel 34:15
Shepherds in the New Testament
In the New Testament shepherds are those who own the sheep, not the hirelings who look after them. The idea of authority always clings to the role of a shepherd or pastor. The shepherd feeds his shock but also rules at the same time. The good shepherd, the Lord Jesus himself delegates his work of leading his people to church leaders, the presbyters, bishops, pastors or elders.
It is sometimes said, in our feminist age, that most of the teaching about church leadership comes from Paul who can be disregarded because he was a misogynist! However Peter also gave a classic description of what true pastoring involves:
“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:1-4
Elders are under-shepherds who are accountable. Those who lead well will be well rewarded when Jesus returns, their hard work will be recognised. Peter gives three powerful negatives to emphasise what true pastorship means. They must exercise oversight, which means that they must lead by example as well as by what they say. This service, which will be hard work, must be done willingly. Enthusiasm in leaders encourages people to follow. It must not be a means of financial benefit. It is shameful that many Christian leaders throughout the world use their role to enrich themselves. Not only will they have to give an account to their Lord but eventually people will see through their behaviour and unfortunately many will turn their backs of the Lord. ‘Shameful game’ was obviously a problem in the early church just as it is today. In contrast eager, enthusiastic leadership will draw many to follow the Lord. Such enthusiastic leadership will counter the accusations that always come against leaders who, for some reason, come into someone’s bad books..
It is not an easy role to balance strong leadership which people will follow from being over-dominant which can stifle an every member ministry.
Such godly leaders are desperately needed today. One of the responsibilities of good leaders is to identify those who have the gifts and inclination to be future church leaders. An urgent commitment to evangelism, an ability to teach and natural leadership personalities are the characteristics we must look for.
I recently spoke at a conference for the Armed Forces Christian Union which was attended by Christian officers from the army, navy and airforce. What was striking was that those officers had clearly been selected because of their leadership skills. It is not enough to select leaders because of their orthodox theology or love of theology, they must love people and be able to lead them into living for the Lord Jesus.
Some may query, ‘But cannot god use anyone who has his spirit?’ Of course God is God and can do anything but he has chosen to use means and has gifted certain people to be leaders. If a person feels God is calling them to a leadership role the evidence of their leadership skill and inclination and ability to win others for Christ and train them in discipleship will be apparent. We must be wise who we encourage to be leaders. Didn’t Paul warn timothy,
“Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands.” 1 Timothy 5:22
The valuable sheep are wandering off all around us, they are lost. The shepherds, the rulers, have a responsibility not just to go after the lost sheep themselves, to be an example, but then to encourage all Christians to join them in the search. They will need to be taught how to do this! A shepherd must feed, by teaching what God says in his Word, and by giving a strong lead.
BVP
