Shepherd

While theologians love to debate what the “main theme” of the Bible is, I could never narrow it down to just one thing. I think it’s helpful to understand that Scripture puts forward many themes for us to recognize, and one way it does this is through repetition. Specifically, it does it through repeated words.  

The purpose of this series is to observe these 4 key words in context and discuss their implications for us today. Hopefully, you’ll start noticing these words when you read the Bible and they’ll add a richness and depth to your biblical knowledge!

If you missed any previous parts, catch up here:

Part 1-  Lord 
Part 2 – Steadfast Love
Part 3 – Seed 

Now, in Part 4, we will look at our last word: shepherd. This special word encompasses God’s protective provision, companionship, love, and care for His people throughout the Bible. 

Explanation of Shepherd

We are probably all familiar with David’s famous line in Psalm 23:1: 

“The Lord is my Shepherd…” 

But where did David learn this idea from? How did he come to know that God was his Shepherd? Was it just because he was a shepherd himself? I think David learned this from his forefathers because there is a long history of God being referred to as a “Shepherd” in Scripture. This word perfectly combines God’s sovereignty and love together while also giving us a comforting visual for our walk with God. 

Examples and Implications of Shepherd

Many Biblical characters were shepherds, including the earliest people. One of Adam and Eve’s children was a shepherd:

“And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.” (Gen 4:2)

The patriarchs were nomadic shepherds and shepherding was a common occupation in that time period. A shepherd was a protector, companion, guard, and loving and careful keeper of the sheep. He was responsible for the sheep’s every need and in charge of leading the helpless little things everywhere they needed to go. I love that God chose to portray Himself in a way that these people would have intimately understood, because it was part of their own identity and heritage. 

The Bible does not say exactly when people started understanding God as a Shepherd, but by Genesis 48:15 Jacob looked back over his life and understood that God had been his provider, his companion, and friend all of his days. He uses the term when he blesses Joseph:

“And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

So, it is no wonder that by the time of David (perhaps the most famous shepherd in the Bible), he has learned to call God his Shepherd. But David recognizes that his Shepherd is LORD (see Part 1 to understand this profound statement better):

“The LORD is my shepherd…” (Psalm 23:1)

And David goes on to explain in Psalm 23 all the ways the Lord provides for him. Indeed, David Gibson states: “The psalm is an expression of total trust in God’s total care.”  

That’s what sheep do. They trust their shepherd for everything. And a good shepherd always comes through.

So, in the book of Ezekiel, God rails against Israel’s corrupt leaders who have failed to shepherd (lead) the people well:

“Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.” (Ex 34:10)

Then, He describes Himself as the true Shepherd:

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 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. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 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 24:11-16)

Did this remind you of a famous New Testament passage? Yes, now Jesus’ words in John 10 make perfect sense. By the time of Jesus, Israel’s religious leaders were failing the people again. Jesus says:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:11-16)

Abner Chou explains, “His declaration was a powerful statement that He Himself is the Lord Yahweh, the only true Shepherd. Only God can shepherd His people faithfully, carefully, and effectively, and Christ achieves this for us because He is God.”

And the promise will be kept. He will guide us safely all the way home to life eternal with Him. As John writes:

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)

So, whatever you are facing today friends, rest easy. The Good Shepherd is leading and guiding you. He will not fail to be a perfect provider and faithful leader. He is Yahweh! He knows how best to lead you and exactly where to go for His purposes to be accomplished. And whatever you need along the way, the Good Shepherd will provide. 

“The LORD is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.” (Ps 23:1, NLT)

(If you need extra encouragement about this today, I highly recommend this beautiful book: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23).