God's New Shepherd
Sermon
LET'S GET COMMITTED
First Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost
Scanning the "Help Wanted" section of any newspaper, one would be hard pressed to find an opening for "Shepherd of the Sheep" in today's society. However, turn back the clock 3,000 years and put that ad in the Middle East Gazette and there would have been many applicants.
A "Shepherd's Contract" might read something like this:
1. The Shepherd will rise before daylight, getting the sheep rounded up to be moved to pastureland.
2. The Shepherd will lead the flock from the fold by marching at the head of the sheep to spot the best feeding pastureland.
3. The Shepherd will be responsible for staying with the flock all day - no coffee breaks away from the flock.
4. The Shepherd will retrieve any lost, wandering, or elusive sheep who takes off on his/her own. He must secure the other sheep before striking out to find the lost sheep.
5. The Shepherd will seek out a watering spot, whether a running stream or man--made well, so that the constantly thirsty animals will have enough water.
6. The Shepherd will lead the sheep back to the fold each night making sure that each one passes under the counting rod. If one is missing at night, the shepherd must go back out again.
7. The Shepherd, once securing all sheep, must guard the entrance of the fold throughout the night hours to assure no wild beasts or thieves enter the fold to kill, maim, or steal any sheep ... even if the shepherd has to fight to the death for their protection.
Once a shepherd was hired, he would soon discover that it was very taxing trying to keep a herd of sheep in an unenclosed pen like Palestine. Cowards, weaklings, or lazy people ought not to apply! It was not an easy job to earn a living!
Drawing upon the figure of the shepherd, Ezekiel discusses the relationship of the failing monarchs and their replacement by the Good Shepherd to help his flock find final rest.
God Owns The Sheep
The preceding verses of this chapter indicate that many of the other shepherds had botched the job they were hired to do. They had become concerned more about themselves than the flock, allowed the weak, sick, and infirm of the flock to fend for themselves, and brutalized the sheep under their care.
Because of the action by these pseudo--shepherds, the sheep had been scattered over the hills, lost, hurt, and dying.
God denounces and fires these shepherds who have fleeced and sheared the sheep. It is interesting that of the 43 shepherds of the sheep from 1051 B.C. to 586 B.C., only three, David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, were solid and consistent shepherds. Only eight or nine others had done some good, while the others were failures and rascals as shepherds.
It is no wonder that God takes the job as "The Shepherd" over from their incapable hands. A new Good Shepherd was envisioned by Ezekiel: "I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken" (Ezekiel 31:24 NIV).
Victor P. Hamilton commented that God gives a "staggering announcement that (God) will raise up a future shepherd and his name will be David. There are only two other references in the Old Testament to a post--David David (Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5) - [this means that] One from the house of David will expedite these ministries. Christians, of course, read this passage messianicly, and properly so."1
Jesus becomes now the Good Shepherd for all who will gather into the Christian flock.
Throughout this passage God's divine sovereignty becomes the key issue. His sovereignty is seen as his absolute divine right to rule totally and extends to his right to exercise this right. How does this affect the person in this newest of millenniums? God has self--limited himself in the concept of sovereignty, sufficient enough to allow individuals to be free moral agents. He has given us the determination to make our own decision on spiritual destiny. He has not imposed this limitation but established it by his own sovereign will. God could cancel out this idea of partial sovereignty to us at any moment, if he so desired. God absolutely decrees that no person can be redeemed except through faith in the Good New Shepherd of Israel - Jesus, who is his one and only Son! John 3:16 says that any "sheep" can come to the Good Shepherd and be safe.
A testimony of being one of God's sheep comes from Will Parder, who is called, "The Mouth Stick Artist" and lives in Fremont, Michigan. Due to a diving accident in August of 1981 he broke his neck and became a quadriplegic. The continual routine of sitting, sleeping, eating, and watching television became boring. At the urging of his wife Sarah, he began drawing in September of 1982.
Parder writes, "Since that first drawing, my skills led me into a great variety of drawings. I thank God for the ability that he gives me to share my talent, my testimony, and his love with others."
Along with every packet of etched cards, pictures, and other items from Will Parder's mouth comes a tract sharing the plan of salvation.
Will Parder knows who has redeemed him from his sin and given life to lifeless limbs.
God Tends The Sheep
God has taken the task of tending the sheep of his pasture, not just owning them. He will go out into the highways and the byways of life to rescue the lost. He will feed the flock. He will give particular attention to the weak and frail. This God of the Old Testament Ezekiel loves people. He is the same God, Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ! There is no difference. There are some who would try to drive a wedge between Yahweh, God of Israel, and the New Testament God, but they cannot do it.
He has given us the example of working with the flock. We, who are his people, need to tend the flocks around us. Our job is a redemptive ministry. There are many who live around us who are hurting, rich and poor alike. Some work and live in a crowd but are so lonely. Who has God given you recently to love and to work with in your corner of the sheep fold?
God Protects The Sheep
Part of the job description is that the shepherd will stay awake nights protecting the flock. Wolves and thieves will not get inside because the shepherd is there watching. God is watching over the sheep of his pasture. The truth is that God will protect those who are his sheep. There are those who would rob us of our spiritual well being, but as long as God is in charge and we are in the fold, we will not be taken. God is the judge of the bleating sheep. He rejects the proud and haughty, but accepts the penitent and brokenhearted. The flock will, in fact, be purified by his protective judgment.
Here is a cover letter for "God's Resume":
To Whom It May Concern ...
I heard you were considering a new manager in your life. I would like to apply for the job. I believe I am the most qualified candidate. I created the heavens and the earth. I AM the I AM. I AM the only one that has ever done this job successfully. I was the first manager of human beings. In fact, I made them, so naturally I know how humanity works, and what is best to get people back into proper working condition. It will be like having the manufacturer as your personal mechanic. If this is your first time considering me, I would just like to point out that my salary has already been paid by the blood of my Son Jesus on the cross of Calvary. What I need from you is the acknowledgment that the price is sufficient to pay for all of your sin and your independence from me. I need you to believe this in your heart and to tell somebody else about your decision with your mouth. The next thing I ask is the right to change and fix your life so you can learn how to stay close to me. I will make some major changes and revisions. They are not for you to worry about. I need your permission to execute these changes, my way and in my time. I will change your desires and give you the strength to make the changes. Please keep your hands out of the way. Don't try to help me and don't resist me. I really do need your full commitment and cooperation. If you give me those, the process can go smoothly, without delays ... Yours sincerely, GOD."2
Isn't it wonderful to know that we are protected by the creator of the universe? Somebody once wrote that underneath are the everlasting arms of God. What child of God was ever permitted to fall lower than God's "underneath"?
Are you excited to be owned, tended, and protected by the Great Shepherd--God?
____________
1. Walter A. Elwell, editor, Evangelical Commentary On The Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1989), p. 581.
2. Author's personal file. E--mail from friend Cathy Arney with no author given.
A "Shepherd's Contract" might read something like this:
1. The Shepherd will rise before daylight, getting the sheep rounded up to be moved to pastureland.
2. The Shepherd will lead the flock from the fold by marching at the head of the sheep to spot the best feeding pastureland.
3. The Shepherd will be responsible for staying with the flock all day - no coffee breaks away from the flock.
4. The Shepherd will retrieve any lost, wandering, or elusive sheep who takes off on his/her own. He must secure the other sheep before striking out to find the lost sheep.
5. The Shepherd will seek out a watering spot, whether a running stream or man--made well, so that the constantly thirsty animals will have enough water.
6. The Shepherd will lead the sheep back to the fold each night making sure that each one passes under the counting rod. If one is missing at night, the shepherd must go back out again.
7. The Shepherd, once securing all sheep, must guard the entrance of the fold throughout the night hours to assure no wild beasts or thieves enter the fold to kill, maim, or steal any sheep ... even if the shepherd has to fight to the death for their protection.
Once a shepherd was hired, he would soon discover that it was very taxing trying to keep a herd of sheep in an unenclosed pen like Palestine. Cowards, weaklings, or lazy people ought not to apply! It was not an easy job to earn a living!
Drawing upon the figure of the shepherd, Ezekiel discusses the relationship of the failing monarchs and their replacement by the Good Shepherd to help his flock find final rest.
God Owns The Sheep
The preceding verses of this chapter indicate that many of the other shepherds had botched the job they were hired to do. They had become concerned more about themselves than the flock, allowed the weak, sick, and infirm of the flock to fend for themselves, and brutalized the sheep under their care.
Because of the action by these pseudo--shepherds, the sheep had been scattered over the hills, lost, hurt, and dying.
God denounces and fires these shepherds who have fleeced and sheared the sheep. It is interesting that of the 43 shepherds of the sheep from 1051 B.C. to 586 B.C., only three, David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, were solid and consistent shepherds. Only eight or nine others had done some good, while the others were failures and rascals as shepherds.
It is no wonder that God takes the job as "The Shepherd" over from their incapable hands. A new Good Shepherd was envisioned by Ezekiel: "I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken" (Ezekiel 31:24 NIV).
Victor P. Hamilton commented that God gives a "staggering announcement that (God) will raise up a future shepherd and his name will be David. There are only two other references in the Old Testament to a post--David David (Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5) - [this means that] One from the house of David will expedite these ministries. Christians, of course, read this passage messianicly, and properly so."1
Jesus becomes now the Good Shepherd for all who will gather into the Christian flock.
Throughout this passage God's divine sovereignty becomes the key issue. His sovereignty is seen as his absolute divine right to rule totally and extends to his right to exercise this right. How does this affect the person in this newest of millenniums? God has self--limited himself in the concept of sovereignty, sufficient enough to allow individuals to be free moral agents. He has given us the determination to make our own decision on spiritual destiny. He has not imposed this limitation but established it by his own sovereign will. God could cancel out this idea of partial sovereignty to us at any moment, if he so desired. God absolutely decrees that no person can be redeemed except through faith in the Good New Shepherd of Israel - Jesus, who is his one and only Son! John 3:16 says that any "sheep" can come to the Good Shepherd and be safe.
A testimony of being one of God's sheep comes from Will Parder, who is called, "The Mouth Stick Artist" and lives in Fremont, Michigan. Due to a diving accident in August of 1981 he broke his neck and became a quadriplegic. The continual routine of sitting, sleeping, eating, and watching television became boring. At the urging of his wife Sarah, he began drawing in September of 1982.
Parder writes, "Since that first drawing, my skills led me into a great variety of drawings. I thank God for the ability that he gives me to share my talent, my testimony, and his love with others."
Along with every packet of etched cards, pictures, and other items from Will Parder's mouth comes a tract sharing the plan of salvation.
Will Parder knows who has redeemed him from his sin and given life to lifeless limbs.
God Tends The Sheep
God has taken the task of tending the sheep of his pasture, not just owning them. He will go out into the highways and the byways of life to rescue the lost. He will feed the flock. He will give particular attention to the weak and frail. This God of the Old Testament Ezekiel loves people. He is the same God, Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ! There is no difference. There are some who would try to drive a wedge between Yahweh, God of Israel, and the New Testament God, but they cannot do it.
He has given us the example of working with the flock. We, who are his people, need to tend the flocks around us. Our job is a redemptive ministry. There are many who live around us who are hurting, rich and poor alike. Some work and live in a crowd but are so lonely. Who has God given you recently to love and to work with in your corner of the sheep fold?
God Protects The Sheep
Part of the job description is that the shepherd will stay awake nights protecting the flock. Wolves and thieves will not get inside because the shepherd is there watching. God is watching over the sheep of his pasture. The truth is that God will protect those who are his sheep. There are those who would rob us of our spiritual well being, but as long as God is in charge and we are in the fold, we will not be taken. God is the judge of the bleating sheep. He rejects the proud and haughty, but accepts the penitent and brokenhearted. The flock will, in fact, be purified by his protective judgment.
Here is a cover letter for "God's Resume":
To Whom It May Concern ...
I heard you were considering a new manager in your life. I would like to apply for the job. I believe I am the most qualified candidate. I created the heavens and the earth. I AM the I AM. I AM the only one that has ever done this job successfully. I was the first manager of human beings. In fact, I made them, so naturally I know how humanity works, and what is best to get people back into proper working condition. It will be like having the manufacturer as your personal mechanic. If this is your first time considering me, I would just like to point out that my salary has already been paid by the blood of my Son Jesus on the cross of Calvary. What I need from you is the acknowledgment that the price is sufficient to pay for all of your sin and your independence from me. I need you to believe this in your heart and to tell somebody else about your decision with your mouth. The next thing I ask is the right to change and fix your life so you can learn how to stay close to me. I will make some major changes and revisions. They are not for you to worry about. I need your permission to execute these changes, my way and in my time. I will change your desires and give you the strength to make the changes. Please keep your hands out of the way. Don't try to help me and don't resist me. I really do need your full commitment and cooperation. If you give me those, the process can go smoothly, without delays ... Yours sincerely, GOD."2
Isn't it wonderful to know that we are protected by the creator of the universe? Somebody once wrote that underneath are the everlasting arms of God. What child of God was ever permitted to fall lower than God's "underneath"?
Are you excited to be owned, tended, and protected by the Great Shepherd--God?
____________
1. Walter A. Elwell, editor, Evangelical Commentary On The Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1989), p. 581.
2. Author's personal file. E--mail from friend Cathy Arney with no author given.
