Teaching from Appling Advance, Appling Georgia – Part 1
We are going to look at both God and Jesus as the shepherd and how we can use Jesus’ name in prayer and access that shepherding for ourselves as well as others.
God and the Lord are both actively shepherding today…
Reah: word picture: what comes from the man watching
Combines the idea of feeding, tending and watching.
What does a shepherd do?
The shepherd tends the flock by leading them to a place of pasture and quiet water so the sheep can be free to rest. Then he takes care of, protects and heals them if necessary.
Why are we called sheep?
Sheep can’t protect themselves, don’t have sharp teeth, claws, horns etc.
They flee from danger and don’t help other sheep out
They get focused on what is right in front of them – the next patch of grass
They tend to wander around trying to find water
They are afraid of predators
David was example of shepherd – king – How does a shepherd lead people?
He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
71 from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance.
72 With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand. (Ps. 78:70-72 ESV) – with understanding (tabown)
“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
(Jer. 3:15 ESV) – sakal (wisdom)
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
11 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.
(Isa. 40:10-11 ESV)
I will set shepherds over them who will care for them [feed them], and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD. (Jer. 23:4 ESV)
Example of good shepherd by looking at bad one described in Ezekiel.
What it is not:
Zechariah 11:16 (ESV):
For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.
Turn around the first descriptive phrase and you have, “care for those being destroyed.”
The KJV says, “visit [care for] those that be cut off [perishing]. It means to take care of, such as when you visit someone in the hospital; you’re not just sitting there, you’re caring for them.
The second phrase is “seek the young.” The young means the scattered. The shepherd goes and seeks the scattered ones. Now think about that in terms of reconciliation. God is the Shepherd; Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He literally goes to seek those who are lost and have been scattered, to bring them into a new pasture.
The next phrase is “heal the maimed” (those broken or hurt). Part of the job of the shepherd is to heal those who are sick, such as to bind up broken bones.
Finally the phrase to “nourish the healthy” indicates that that the shepherd not only takes care of the scattered sick ones, dying ones or ones that need help, His job also is to nurture the healthy. (The KJV states it as to “feed the standing still” and the NASB says to “sustain the standing”.) So even the ones standing who appear not to need anything, need things! And it’s the shepherd’s job to figure out what they need.
So the four aspects of the shepherd’s job is to care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken and nourish the healthy.
I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel.
15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.
16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. (Ezek. 34:14-16 ESV)
NLT – MY shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; — causes me to lie down (because I am fed and not afraid)
he leads me beside peaceful streams. – “waters of quietness”
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord.
