The Good Shepherd

 

1 Kings 3; Psalms 83–84; Ezekiel 34; Ephesians 1

For some time I’ve been concerned about the people of God and our future in a world that has lost its senses. Not only that, many who claim to be Christian seem to use that ‘status’ to justify themselves but forgetting our responsibility toward one another. This was a particular problem in the OT family of God in that those given charge to take care of God’s people were not doing their job. The prophets constantly warned these ‘shepherds’ to take care of God’s ‘sheep’ but . . .

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.” (Ezekiel 34:2–6)

God not only promised to right these wrongs but to give them one shepherd who would do as He required. He spoke of David, yet the prophecy points to Jesus Christ, who became the Savior of all who believe and our caring, guiding Shepherd.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:3–10)

That is the Shepherd that God wanted! I’m truly thankful for the power of Christ to take care of His people, I’m to trust Him to do just that, not worry about the children of God but be thankful for the hope we have in Him. I’m to do my part but I cannot do it all. He will make good things happen because He is the Great Shepherd and I am just one of many under His care.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15–23)

APPLY: This chapter in Ephesians is so rich that reading it is cause for great delight and for deep confidence. The One who died so we could have eternal life is head over all and fills each of His people with what we need to become the people He wants us to be. I can trust Him. I must still pray and care for the needs around me but with thanksgiving and with assurance that He will build His church just as He promised.