Old Testament Shepherding

The language of shepherding plays an important role in the Biblical narrative. The pastoral/shepherding language of the New Testament is familiar to the church, but the Old Testament is also replete with examples of this shepherding motif. In particular, the Old Testament uses the imagery of shepherding to describe the importance and impact of several different categories of leadership.

God’s Leadership

The OT uses the imagery of shepherding to illustrate GOD’S LEADERSHIP in the lives of his people.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1, ESV)

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.” (Psalm 80:1, ESV)

“Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (Isaiah 40:10–11, ESV)

(cf., Ps 28:9; Ezek 34:12-15)

Godly Leadership

The OT also uses the imagery of shepherding to define GODLY LEADERSHIP. In other words, the task of a shepherd illustrates what God expects from a leader.

“He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” (Psalm 78:70–72, ESV)“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15, ESV)

(cf., Num 27:17; 2 Sam 5:2; 1 Chron 11:2)

Ungodly Leadership

The OT also uses the imagery of shepherding to expose UNGODLY LEADERSHIP. The prophets especially describe wicked leaders as failed and faithless shepherds.

“For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the Lord; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.” (Jeremiah 10:21, ESV)

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:1–2, ESV)

“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.” (Ezekiel 34:10, ESV)

(cf., Jer 50:6; Ezek 34:1-6)

Messianic Leadership

The OT uses the imagery of shepherding to anticipate MESSIANIC LEADERSHIP. God promises that he will send the Messiah as the Shepherd Savior of his people.

“And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.” (Ezekiel 34:23–24, ESV)

“My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.” (Ezekiel 37:24, ESV)

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.” (Micah 5:2–4, ESV)

(cf., Ezek 37:24-27)

The Good Shepherd

It is interesting to note that all four of these distinct uses of the OT shepherding motif come up in what might be the most important chapter on shepherding in the NT, John 10. In the tenth chapter of John, Jesus identifies himself as “The Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:11,14). In this chapter Jesus defines what it means to be “The Good Shepherd” in a manner that is consistent with the OT background:

• Divine Shepherd - This is one of the “I am” statements of John’s Gospel that has significant implications for our understanding of the deity of Christ (cf., 8:58). Additionally, Jesus claims the authority to lay down his life and take it back up again (Jn 10:18), which is an authority that exceed what is possible for a merely human shepherd. Furthermore, Jesus shepherds according to a divine knowledge (Jn 10:14-15). Thus, Jesus is the Divine Shepherd.

• Godly Shepherd - Jesus guides (Jn 10:4), protects (Jn 10:7), and provides (Jn 10:9) for his sheep in such a way that they will not only live, but will have life abundantly (Jn 10:10). Thus, Jesus is the godly Shepherd par excellence, who leads his sheep according to his Father’s expectations (Jn 10:8).

• Faithful Shepherd - The entire pericope is framed as a contrast between the Pharisees of John 9, who cast out the man who was healed of his blindness, and Christ who healed the man. In other words, Jesus shows himself to be the Good Shepherd over and against the wicked shepherds of first century Judaism (Jn 10:1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13). Thus, unlike the wicked shepherds of his and previous generations, Jesus is a faithful Shepherd.

• Messianic Shepherd - John 10 presents Jesus as the Messianic Shepherd who fulfills the prophesies of a Shepherd Savior who will come to save his sheep (Jn 10:9) and lead them into eternal life (Jn 10:10) by laying down his life as a payment for their sins (Jn 10:15, 17,18). As a result of his salvific shepherding, there will be one flock with one Shepherd (Jn 10:16; cf., Ezek 37:24). Thus, Jesus is the Messianic Shepherd.