PORTRAITS OF GOD: THE SHEPHERD

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Ps.23:1).  

This is one of the most precious of portraits hanging in the gallery of God. The author, David, grew up shepherding his father’s flock. He drew from that imagery to remind us of how God cares for us. We are God’s flock.  How He loves His lambs!

We shall not want in life—The Shepherd feeds us in green pastures and leads us beside still waters, restoring our soul. The Lord always guides us on the right path, for our good and the glory of His name.

We shall not fear in death—He walks with us through that dark valley.  As we come to the end of life, the Shepherd that has faithfully been near will not abandon us then. He will bring us through!

We shall not perish in eternity—dwelling in the Lord’s house forever.  How long is that?  To be in a place of breathtaking beauty, and supremely, to be in the manifest presence of our Shepherd, safely in His fold—that is something to joyfully anticipate!

WOE TO THE SHEPHERDS

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:1)

God has a special judgment for those who are unfaithful shepherds.  To whom much is given, much is required.  The degree of insight and influence which God grants to those who guide His people elevates the level of the pastor’s responsibility and accountability.  The more insight we have into the truth, the greater God holds us responsible for what we know.  The more influence we have, the graver God views our accountability for those we lead.

Jeremiah was a faithful shepherd.  It was not easy.  His message was hated by his generation.  His fellow shepherds were enjoying the favor of the people because they were telling them what they wanted to hear.  This is the theme of Jeremiah 23.

Woe is pronounced on those who scatter sheep rather than gather them (v.1-2).  Shepherds are meant to care for the flock—to lead, feed, guard, and care for the sheep.  It is not an easy job.  The faithless pastor is one who is focused on his concerns instead.  He is self-centered and not sheep-centered.

The Lord, our Shepherd, takes note.  He loves His sheep.  This is His nature.  God knows they are soon to be scattered in judgment when Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians.  It is not just the wicked in the city that will be taken, but when the city is sacked, the godly will be led away also.  God will not lose sight of His sheep, however, and will regather them and care for them (v.3).  His way of caring for them is to appoint over His flock some faithful shepherds who will feed them the Word of God (v.4).  I think of men like Ezekiel and Daniel—faithful shepherds to the exiles; Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi—faithful shepherds to those who returned to rebuild Jerusalem.  The ultimate gathering of the Jews to Israel and outpouring of grace awaits the coming of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ (v.5-8).

The end of time is a day of hope for those who are prepared to meet the Lord.  The Apostle would later write of his anticipation of reward for all faithful shepherds like himself (2 Tim.4:8).  Paul knew there would be false teachers also who would tickle the ears of the people (2 Tim.4:3-4).  The end of time is a day of horror for those who are unprepared.  Faithless shepherds will face some of the hottest fires of hell for they have not only rejected God’s Word, they have actively led others into torment with them!  Jeremiah was heartsick at the thought (v.9). 

The spiritual leaders’ model and message—fueled by the lusts in their own wicked hearts—fed the flame of depraved desire in the hearts of the people (v.10).  God assures them of His wrath (v.11-15).

Their kind is growing like a cancer in the churches of our land.  Apostasy is a malignant evil afflicting the pulpit and killing those in the pew.  As those of Jeremiah’s day, the source of their message is their own perverse heart and not the Word of God (v.16).  They preach a false promise of prosperity and rock them to sleep with the lullaby of the damned (v.17).  Such are not God called, but self-centered (v.18).  Their doom will come (v.19-40).

The faithful shepherd knows the power of God’s Word (v.28-29).  It will be a fire to consume the chaff and a hammer to break stony hearts.  The shepherd’s call is to, “Preach the Word!”  (2 Tim.4:2)

THE GREAT SHEPHERD

 

The LORD is my shepherd….  (Psalm 23:1a)

In John 10, Jesus identified Himself as the shepherd of our souls.  He spoke of His goodness in laying down His life for the sheep, but he also spoke of His greatness saying, “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”  (v.17b-18a)  On the cross Jesus gave His life for the sheep, but on the third day, He arose from the tomb. He has ascended and ever lives to make intercession for us.

HE IS A POWERFUL SHEPHERD.  Focus on the first two words, “The LORD.”  Scripture presents Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is the Lord God Almighty, the one who in eternity spoke and the worlds came into existence.  Yet, His power was never more vividly demonstrated than when He reached out a lifeless hand and seized life and pulled it back into Himself.  The earth quaked and strong soldiers fainted and the stone was rolled away and out came Jesus swinging the keys of death and hell. Believe Him when He says, “Because I live, you shall live also.” (John 14:19b) 

HE IS A PERSONAL SHEPHERD.  Look at the first three words.  David says, “The LORD is,” not was.  Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed—each one was, but only The Lord Jesus is!  Then consider the first five words, “The LORD is my shepherd….”   David didn’t say, “He is a Shepherd to the world” but “He’s mine.”  If He is a Shepherd to no one else, He is to me.  He knows me by name; He cares for me, watches over me, and preserves me. As sheep prone to wander we may wander outside His will, but never outside His care. Jesus knows our trials, tears and temptations. We must be able to claim Him as our personal shepherd.  Can you?

HE IS A PROVIDING SHEPHERD.  The next phrase says,  “I shall not want.”

I SHALL NOT WANT IN LIFE (v.2-3).  Sheep will not lie down when hungry.  Jesus provides green pastures for us—physical and spiritual nourishment.  What refreshment is found beside still waters!  There He restores our soul and gives the strength we need to follow Him.  He leads us in right paths.  The guidance of the Shepherd is stressed here. Thank God for the times we are led through great blessing, but sometimes the right paths are hard paths.  We may be sure the road leads to glory—and that is the main thing!

I SHALL NOT WANT IN DEATH (v.4).  Jesus died such a death that we will never have to die like that.  He trod the winepress alone, that we might walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death.  The Psalmist describes death as a shadow. We need not fear a shadow.  It is just a dark valley we must pass through—but note you go through—light into brief darkness and into the light of eternity! 

I SHALL NOT WANT IN ETERNITY  (v.5-6).  Goodness and mercy in this life brings us into glory and majesty in the world to come.  Christ has a banquet table spread and is waiting for the marriage supper.  How long is forever?  Our home awaits.  Come, Great Shepherd and take your flock to that eternal sheepfold!