The role of the shepherd in the story of Israel.
by Dorothy Nimchuk
A bowl of lentils bartered for a birthright and a stolen blessing precipitated Jacob’s journey to the flatlands of Padan Aram to seek a wife from his mother’s relatives. Twenty years later, Jacob returned with wives, children, livestock, and servants.
Near the end of his life, he declared, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, . . . has been my shepherd all my life long . . .” (Genesis 48:15, ESV).
Is this a testimony all of us can declare, that the Lord has been our shepherd our entire lives? When we understand the significance of shepherds in the Bible, we can appreciate Jesus’ role as our Good Shepherd now and for eternity.
Shepherds in Israel
Common in the Middle East, shepherding had been the lifestyle of the patriarchs. Moses acquired leadership skills in Pharaoh’s household, but he learned to shepherd his father-in-law’s flock in the desert, preparing for God’s call forty years later to lead His flock. Denied entrance to the Promised Land, Moses prayed for a new leader so the flock would “not be like sheep which have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:17; cf. 20:2-13).
Keeping sheep was practical in Old Testament times. Grass and water were scarce, and sheep were easily moved from place to place but were helpless, tending to wander. Isaiah used this analogy when, early on, the Lord God placed the burden of the world’s guilt on His Son’s shoulders: “All we like sheep have gone astray; . . . and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all . . .” (53:6).
God bemoaned the fact that His sheep wandered with no one to help, so He appointed a shepherd to feed them. Isaiah announced it: “Unto us a Child is born” who would “feed His flock like a shepherd” and reign on David’s throne (9:6; 40:11; 9:7).
A shepherd reigning on a throne may sound odd, but the humble guardian of the flock was an apt image for the good rule of the Lord and Israel’s king (Psalm 23; 78:70-72; 80:1). The rustic shepherd formed makeshift, U-shaped folds from brush and bushes, topped with thorny branches to keep sheep in and marauders out. He slept across the opening, fitting the caring, protective profile of king David and what his heir, Jesus, would do as “the door of the sheep” (John 10:7).
Chief Shepherd
Fast forward many generations. Angels appeared to shepherds watching their flocks. First to hear the angelic chorus announcing Messiah’s birth, they were quick to spread the good news. Patriarchs and prophets had longed to see Messiah’s day. Those who should have welcomed Jesus rejected Him as a charlatan. Yet He didn’t back down from His identity, laying claim to both deity and messiahship (Isaiah 9:7).
The Chief Shepherd was not like most of the leaders in Israel’s history. They were like hirelings, caring little for their charges and apt to flee at the first sign of danger. Unfaithful leaders (both civil and spiritual) exploited their flocks. Those who served spiritual food to God’s flock deserved to have their material needs met, but often failed to reciprocate (Ezekiel 34:1-10; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18).
Jesus wasn’t like these shepherds. He was popular with the masses because of the miracles He performed, but He met opposition from Pharisees and other leaders. Jealous of His popularity and viewing Him as a threat, they tried to discredit the Chief Shepherd. Jesus exposed their despicable behavior (Matthew 23:13-15; cf. Ezekiel 34:18-22).
The rulers of the people finally succeeded in ridding themselves of Jesus’ influence, or so they thought, by nailing Him to a cross. The Resurrection changed everything, and the early church exploded across Asia Minor, with the Word reaching into every corner of the world.
A welcoming flock
As the cornerstone of Hebrew society, shepherding demanded a solitary lifestyle, and Bedouin hospitality prevailed: setting a lavish table for drop-in guests, anointing their heads with oil (a sign of hospitality and respect), refreshing after their travels. With this in mind, Jesus reprimanded His Pharisee host for failure to provide the simplest of courtesies to Him as guest, while praising the uninvited woman who anointed Him (Luke 7:36-48).
As the Cornerstone-Shepherd of our faith, Jesus welcomes the lost with His better-than-Bedouin hospitality. His table is spread with the Word of Life and an inexhaustible supply of living water. He anoints with the refreshing, perfumed oil of joy. Yet many a man would barter Jesus’ invitation in exchange for this world’s allure (Mark 8:36-38).
Our heavenly Father also has a table prepared to celebrate the upcoming marriage of His Son and His bride (God’s flock, Revelation 19:7-9). There we will join the masses of people, not sheep, afforded a special place at God’s table in His redemptive plan of salvation. Hallelujah!
Pastors as Shepherds
“I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15).
The shepherd metaphor extends to pastors. Peter describes how pastors should shepherd the flock of God as overseers, willingly and eagerly, as examples and “as being lords over those entrusted to you” (1 Peter 5:3, emphasis mine). The reward for doing this is great: “when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory . . .” (v. 4).
Those who would lead God’s flock should feed them God’s soul-satisfying Word, lead (not drive) in decision-making in a Christlike manner, protect from false doctrine, gather them so none are lost, and diagnose the flock regarding their spiritual health. Pastors will meet with resistance in their flock at times and should bear in mind a “What would Jesus do?” approach to their reaction and discipline.
— Dorothy Nimchuk
