The People of God--God's Kingdom--V

A third term the Bible uses for the earthly king of God's people is "shepherd." This term is very important, because it denotes the KIND OF KING God desires for his people. Whereas the world thinks of a king as a dictator or authoritarian ruler, God wants his earthly king to be subject to him, to represent him on earth, and to use humble, kind, persuasive influence in interacting with people. God's king does NOT DEMAND that people do what he says, but COMMANDS the respect of people by his sterling example. Note these passages on shepherds:

1. In 2 Samuel 5:2, the North Israelites come to David at Ziklag to urge him to be their king, and they say to him: "The Lord said to you, 'You will SHEPHERD my people Israel, and you will become their PRINCE.'"

2. Psalm 78:70-72 says:
"He [Yahweh] chose David his servant
and took him from the sheep pens;
from tending the sheep he brought him
to be SHEPHERD of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance.
And David SHEPHERDED them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them."
One cannot help noticing the tenderness and care with which David dealt with God's people Israel, as a shepherd deals with a flock of sheep.

3. Ezekiel 34 is especially instructive, as it describes in detail how God himself is the chief shepherd of his people, and earthly kings are his "undershepherds." Notice especially verses 15-16:
"I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 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."
God cares tenderly for his flock, and any among his flock that use harshness or threats or force, he destroys, for the health of the flock.

4. The passage on elders in 1 Peter 5:2-3 reflects the same attitude about earthly "servants" of God's people: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, SERVING as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to SERVE; NOT LORDING IT OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, but being EXAMPLES to the flock." It is instructive that people whom human beings call "leaders," the Bible calls "servants" of God and "servants" of God's people.

[More to come]

John T. Willis