Courtney Gilmore We all seem to do better when we have a leader. But God sent His people more than just someone to guide and teach. Throughout history, He sent men to shepherd His people. Shepherds not only guide, but they also provide, care for, protect, comfort, and keep us.
David was a shepherd to his father’s sheep until God called him to shepherd His flock. David became Israel’s second king and shepherded God’s people.
He chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds. From following the ewes that had young, He brought him to shepherd Jacob, His people and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Psalm 78:70-72
So, God called David to shepherd His people, while David looked to the Lord as His shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. The Lord restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies and anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23
The Lord was His example. He provided for David and led him in the right ways. He protected and comforted him. David felt His goodness and His mercy, knowing God was with Him no matter what.
Sheep Without a Shepherd
After David died, his son Solomon became the third king of Israel. But after he died, the kingdom split and had two rulers, one in the north and one in the south. Eventually, each kingdom strayed so far from the Lord that He allowed other nations to take them captive. Their leaders had been insufficient and failed to shepherd His flock well. So, God rebuked them and said He would shepherd the people Himself.
Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with wool. You slaughter fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed the sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost. But with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd. They became food for all the beast of the field when they were scattered… My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth and no one was seeking or searching for them.
Therefore, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and I will bring them into their own land… I will feed My flock and I will make them lie down. The Lord will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick. But I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgement.
Ezekiel 34:2-16
Jesus Sought the Lost Sheep
Because their human leaders could never be sufficient kings or shepherds to His people, God sent Jesus to shepherd Israel. He traveled from city to city, teaching, preaching, and healing the people, having compassion for them because they were weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. After Jesus called the twelve disciples, He told them not to go to the other nations yet but to preach directly to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, telling them that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. The people of Israel had lost their way, and the Lord was still calling them to repent and turn back to Him, just as He had done each time before.
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:4-7
So, Jesus focused on the lost sheep of Israel. He called them all to Himself so He could guide, teach, provide, comfort, and care for them. But He also knew that as their shepherd, He would ultimately have to give His life to save them.
Jesus Laid Down His Life for the Sheep
When Goliath threatened the Israelites and mocked their God, David arose to fight Him. But even the soldiers were scared of the giant Philistine, and King Saul couldn’t understand how a young shepherd could defeat him. So, David explained that when a lion or bear took a lamb, he had to chase after them and rescue it. He had killed lions and bears for the sake of his father’s sheep, and he could kill the Philistine for the sake of the sheep who belonged to his Father in heaven.
A good shepherd not only provides, guides, and cares for the sheep, but he’s their protector. He must be willing to give his life for them. David willingly risked his life by running after the predator to save the sheep. Jesus was our Good Shepherd.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. The wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and I am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring. They will hear My voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore, My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.
John 10:11-18
Peter Shepherded the Churches
So, Jesus died for us. But, then, He rose again and walked with them briefly. Though, He would soon ascend to heaven and the people would again feel lost without Him. So, He called Peter to shepherd His sheep. Then, just before Jesus ascended, He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Through His power, they would be His witnesses. So, on the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel to the people of Israel, and saved 3,000 of the Father’s lost sheep that day.
He and the disciples continued preaching to the lost sheep of Israel until God came to Him in a vision and told Him to offer salvation to the other nations in addition to the people of Israel. So, we all have been offered salvation by the Shepherd who gave His life for us. But that is not all! He is now in heaven as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
Elders of the Church Shepherd Us
Like the Israelites, we have God’s law, and we also have our Shepherd, Jesus. But sometimes, it’s still hard to follow on our own. So, the Lord gave us the church. Jesus called Peter the rock and said He would build the foundation of the church on him.
So, while he was alive, Peter served as a shepherd to the church. He, and the other apostles set up its foundations so we would still have people to shepherd us when they were gone. Peter told the elders to willingly shepherd the flock, with Jesus as their example.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly, nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples of the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3
Like the shepherd of the sheep and like Jesus, the elders are to be willing to give their lives for God’s flock. They will be held accountable just as the Old Testament shepherds. It is their job to feed us His Word and care for the body, which is the church. They are responsible for keeping each of us in the faith and seeking after us when we go astray. It is our job to be good sheep and not make their job difficult.
Obey those who rule over you and be submissive. For they watch out for your souls as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief. For that would be unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17
Follow the law, look to the Good Shepherd, and let the shepherds of the church lead you.
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This is an excerpt from “Without a Leader It’s Easy to Stray” as taught on YouTube, Podcast, and written on Substack. Read the beginning of the lesson for free. Or read it in its entirety, along with previous lessons over Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges for $6/month or $60/year. Once subscribed, you’ll receive one lesson each week thereafter by email. Cancel anytime.
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