“He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes
that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.
So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the
skillfulness of his hands.”
(Ps 78:70-72, NKJV)
The end-time church that needs to be rethought and repaired according to God’s heart is not called “the tabernacle of David” by accident. Amos 9:11 states that this tabernacle is “like a house fallen into ruins”. Therefore God says – “I will repair its walls and restore it. I will rebuild it and make it as it was long ago.” (GNB).
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt 9:36). This is the sad state of our ecclesia – the fold is exhausted and worn out because there are no shepherds. There are reverends and pastors, and seminaries and Bible schools, deacons and elders, an entire organized church structure, but the sheep “fainted, and were scattered abroad” (Websters).
David proved himself as guardian of the sheep in the field. This was his way of being faithful in the small things, his love and caring for his sheep a sign to God that he could be trusted with greater things.
God’s seminary is nestled in the sheep pen, not in the Bible school. Knowledge about raising a flock cannot come from a book or from some expert on the matter. God sees all (Matt 6:4) and will reward you (6:18) based on your stewardship of that over which you have been faithful. God is in the business of taking care of his flock, and it is a business you can only learn from him by getting your hands dirty.
Thus it is not strange that Christ asks Simon Peter, the one He prototypically called to raise up his church, in John 21:15-17 – “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
In John 10 Christ explains the enormous importance of this shepherding within the Kingdom of God. In verse 2 he clearly states that “he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep”. In verse 7 he continues – “I am the door of the sheep.” In this way we know that all who are born again (who have entered through the Door) are shepherds of the sheep.
- Sela: This teaching has certain consequences for your individual responsibility as a shepherd. How far have you progressed in God’s seminary?
- Read: 1 Cor 16
- Memorise: 1 Cor. 16:20
