Shepherds After God's Heart

Sheep Without a Shepherd

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In John 10 Jesus spoke about thieves, robbers and hired hands. Long before that, God had warned His people about leaders who did not care for them. He had also promised to send them a true Shepherd.

Moses' prayer. When Moses was old, he asked God to choose a man to lead the people after him, so that they would not be like sheep that have no shepherd. God chose Joshua (Numbers 27:16-18).

A shepherd-king. When David became king over all Israel, the people remembered what God had told him: “You shall shepherd My people Israel” (2 Samuel 5:2). A king was supposed to care for God's people like a shepherd.

A warning to a king. Years later, King Ahab of Israel wanted to go to war. The prophet Micaiah told him that he saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd (1 Kings 22:17). Ahab did not listen.

Shepherds who scattered. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God spoke serious words to the leaders of His people. He said woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of His pasture, because they had not taken care of them (Jeremiah 23:1-2).

God gathers His flock. But God did not give up on His sheep. He promised to gather them Himself from all the lands where they had been scattered, and to bring them home (Jeremiah 23:3).

New shepherds. He promised to set shepherds over them who would feed them, so that they would not be afraid anymore, and not one of them would be missing (Jeremiah 23:4).

The Branch of David. Then God promised a King from David's family. He called Him a righteous Branch, a King who would rule wisely and do what is right. His name would be The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

Shepherds after God's heart. God also said He would give His people shepherds according to His heart, who would feed them with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15).

Still waiting. Even after the people came home from Babylon, the prophet Zechariah saw them wandering like sheep, in trouble because there was no shepherd (Zechariah 10:2).

Then Jesus came. God had promised to gather His sheep Himself and to raise up a King from David's family. Then Jesus stood before the leaders who had scattered one of God's sheep and said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).

What we learn. God cares about how His people are led. When leaders failed, He sent His own Son to save the sheep and to give His life for them.

What to do. Thank God that you do not have to be a sheep without a shepherd. If you belong to Jesus, He is leading you.

For hundreds of years before Jesus came, God had spoken about the shepherds of His people: the ones who failed, and the One He would send.

A man over the congregation (Numbers 27:16-18). Moses asked the Lord to set a man over the congregation who would go out and come in before them, and lead them out and bring them in, so that the people would not be like sheep with no shepherd. God answered with Joshua.

David the shepherd-king (2 Samuel 5:2). When the tribes made David king, they remembered that the Lord had said to him, “You shall shepherd My people Israel.” A king in Israel was meant to be a shepherd under God.

Scattered (1 Kings 22:17). Micaiah told King Ahab that he saw all Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep with no shepherd. A leader who will not listen to God leaves his people unprotected.

Woe to the shepherds (Jeremiah 23:1-2). God pronounced woe on the shepherds who destroyed and scattered the sheep of His pasture. They had not looked after the flock, so God would hold them to account for the evil they had done.

The Lord gathers (23:3-4). God promised to gather the rest of His flock Himself, bring them back to their folds, and set up shepherds who would feed them. They would no longer be afraid, and none of them would be missing.

The Branch (23:5-6). The Hebrew word for Branch is tsemach (say: TSEH-makh), a sprout or new growth. God promised to raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who would reign and do what is right, and His name would be The Lord Our Righteousness. Jesus, the Son of David, is that King.

After God's heart (Jeremiah 3:15). God promised shepherds according to His heart, who would feed His people with knowledge and understanding. A true shepherd gives people God's Word, not his own ideas.

No shepherd (Zechariah 10:2). Even after the return from Babylon, Zechariah saw the people wandering like sheep, in trouble because there was no shepherd.

Then Jesus came (John 10:11). God had promised to gather His sheep Himself and to raise up a righteous King from David's family. Then Jesus stood before the leaders who had cast out one of God's sheep and said, “I am the good shepherd.” The Shepherd God had promised had come.

Application. God takes the care of His people seriously. The leaders who scattered the flock answered to Him, and so will every leader today. Thank God for the Good Shepherd, and pray for the pastors and teachers who help care for you.

Wolves and Faithful Shepherds

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Jesus warned His followers about wolves: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). A false prophet can look gentle and friendly, but he teaches things about God that are not true, and Jesus said you will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).

Paul's warning. Paul told the leaders of the church in Ephesus to watch over the flock and to shepherd the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. He warned them that savage wolves would come in among them (Acts 20:28-29).

Wolves from inside. Paul also said that some men from inside the church would rise up and twist the truth to pull people after themselves (Acts 20:30). A wolf can look like one of the sheep.

Test what you hear. John wrote that we should not believe every spirit but test whether it is from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). Check what you hear against God's Word.

What people want to hear. Paul warned that a time would come when people would not want true teaching. They would gather teachers who tell them only what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). A good teacher tells you what God says.

Good shepherds are a gift. Not every leader is a wolf. Jesus gives His church good leaders: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). The word pastor means shepherd.

What a good shepherd is like. Peter told church leaders to shepherd God's flock willingly and gladly, not for money and not by bossing people around, but by being good examples (1 Peter 5:2-3).

Staying safe. Good leaders are glad for you to tell your parents anything. If a grown-up ever asks you to keep a secret from your parents, or makes you feel unsafe, tell a parent or another adult you trust.

Help your shepherds. Hebrews says that your church leaders watch out for your souls. Listen to them and make their work a joy, not a burden (Hebrews 13:17).

The Shepherd over all. Even the best pastor is a helper under Jesus. Human shepherds make mistakes, but Jesus never fails His sheep. He did not run from the wolf. He laid down His life for His sheep and took it again (John 10:18).

What to do. Listen for Jesus' voice in the Bible. Check what you hear against God's Word. Pray this week for your pastor and your teachers by name.

Sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” The danger is not that wolves look like wolves. It is that they look like sheep. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16): over time a teacher's life and teaching show whether he points people to Jesus or to himself.

Elders and wolves (Acts 20:28-31). Paul told the elders of Ephesus to take heed to themselves and to all the flock, and to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. He warned that savage wolves would come in, and that men from among them would twist the truth to draw disciples after themselves. For three years he had warned them night and day with tears.

Test the spirits (1 John 4:1). John told believers not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Testing is not being unkind. It is being faithful.

What people want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when people would not put up with sound teaching. Wanting to hear only what pleased them, they would gather teachers for themselves and turn away from the truth. A faithful teacher says what God says, even when it is not popular.

Pastors (Ephesians 4:11-12). “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.” The Greek word for pastors is poimen (say: poy-MAYN), shepherd, the same word Jesus used for Himself in John 10.

A shepherd's heart (1 Peter 5:2-3). Peter told elders to shepherd the flock of God willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, and not as lords over the people but as examples. That is the opposite of a hireling.

Following well (Hebrews 13:17). Church leaders watch out for souls and will give an account to God. Believers help them by listening and following, so that their work is a joy.

The one Shepherd. Every human shepherd is also one of the sheep, under Jesus. He is the one Shepherd who never fails His flock. He laid down His life for the sheep and took it again (John 10:18).

Application. Read the Bible for yourself, so that you know the Shepherd's voice. Check what you hear against it. Thank God for faithful pastors, and pray for them by name.

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