“He will tend His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs in His arms;
He will carry them in His bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40.11, ESV)
Sheep aren’t the brightest animals. They tend to wander from safety, panic readily, and become easy targets for predators. Although such dumb animals appear to make shepherding a simple job, it is not light work. The Shepherd has to maintain vigilance to protect the sheep from danger and, more often, from the sheep’s own stupidity. Considering all this, it is humbling to realize how often God has employed shepherds to lead his people and how we are still compared with sheep even today.
Shepherding was a training ground for several Old Testament leaders. Jacob worked as a shepherd prior to leading his family and flocks back to his father in Canaan. Joseph and his eleven brothers worked as shepherds before going to Egypt. Moses served as a shepherd for his father-in-law Jethro for 40 years before God called him to “shepherd” the Israelites out of Egypt and into the promised land. David was called from the sheep fields to become king over Israel. The job–particularly for Moses–prepared them to lead with patience and gentleness, while also being ready to attack those who were wolves in the midst of the sheep.
In the New Testament, Jesus called Himself, “the Good Shepherd,“ thereby fulfilling prophecy and becoming our guide through the perils of this life. In Isaiah, Jesus is described as one who “gather[s] the lambs in his arms… and gently lead[s] those with young.“ Isn’t that the kind of shepherd you’d like to follow? One who is loving, constant, and gentle? When Jesus established His church, part of His plan was to establish Shepherds in each congregation to serve as guides and protectors. The men who serve as shepherds in their congregations have the greatest example in Jesus.
Are you willing to be led by Jesus our shepherd, or do you insist on going your own way?
Do you know Him and trust Him?
Are you trusting the shepherds appointed to lead in your home congregation or do you fight them?
As you write through scriptures this month, pay attention to the nature and character of the shepherds. Compare the bad shepherds with the good shepherds and note the pattern of shepherds throughout the scriptures. I hope you’ll join us as we write through these passages this month!
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Special thanks to my sisters in Christ, Liz Smith and Sara McBroom, who provide their wisdom and support each month.
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