I AM Bible Study (Session 3)
Notes
Transcript
I Am the Good Shepherd
I Am the Good Shepherd
One of the earliest mentions of the term Shepherd to describe the God of Israel is found in the 49th chapter of Genesis. Here, Jacob - the grandson of Abraham, son of Isaac, the one who wrestled with God and afterwards received the name Israel - this Jacob, is on his deathbed and before he goes, he is going to give a blessing to each of his 12 sons.
As he blesses his favored son Joseph, he says in Genesis 49:22-27
Joseph is a young bull, a young bull by a spring, who strides with oxen. They attacked him fiercely and fired arrows; the archers attacked him furiously. But his bow stayed strong, and his forearms were nimble, by the hands of the strong one of Jacob, by the name of the shepherd, the rock of Israel, by God, your father, who supports you, by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings from the skies above and blessings from the deep sea below, blessings from breasts and womb. The blessings of your father exceed the blessings of the eternal mountains, the wealth of the everlasting hills. May they all rest on Joseph’s head, on the forehead of the one set apart from his brothers.
Notice from where Joseph receives his strength - by “the shepherd, the rock of Israel, by God your Father.”
Here we find this imagery of Shepherd describing God that will continue on throughout the Bible.
God also places certain people into the role of shepherds over the people - these are kings, priests and prophets.
Moses was such a shepherd. We read in…
Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit,
When Moses chose Joshua to succeed him, he said…
“Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”
One of well known Shepherds of Israel was David - whose occupation as a young man was that of an actual shepherd of sheep. In 1 Sam 16, the prophet Samuel was sent by God to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king of Israel from among his sons. As each son, starting with the oldest, were brought before Samuel - the Lord would say “not this one”.
Read 1 Sam 16:11-13
Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
And we are told that God said to David in 2 Sam 5:2
2 Samuel 5:2 (ESV)
‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’ ”
In time, as you know, David becomes king. Among his many gifts and talents, David is a poet and he writes many of the Psalms. One of them is very familiar to us, Psalm 23
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Again, we hear of the Lord described as a shepherd.
Question: What is the role of a Shepherd as described in his psalm?
Answer: A Shepherd cares for his sheep, guards over them, protects them, feeds them, leads them to water, gives them rest.
As the Old Testament takes us through the history of Israel, we see that many of the kings failed in their role of Shepherd - and in so doing, the people were led astray and eventually, this led to Israel’s exile.
This is clearly seen when we read Ezekiel 34:1-16
The word of the Lord came to me: “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. “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 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. “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
Discussion: Compare the activities of the shepherds of Israel with the Shepherd of Israel. How do each treat the sheep?
Now that we have looked at the historical context within the Bible of God being the Shepherd of Israel as well as the failure of those he placed in shepherd-like positions, let’s turn to John’s Gospel.
Historical Note:
In Ancient Israel a sheepfold was a walled structure with no roof in which flocks of sheep could rest peacefully. The tops of the walls were lined with briars to keep out thieves and predators. The sheep door was the only way in or out for the sheep. The sheep door was the only safe entrance for the sheep and the only guarded position. It was at the sheep door that the shepherd slept to ensure the safety of the sheep while they rested. (resources.lifepointchurch.us)
Read: John 10:7-18
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Discussion: When Jesus says that He is the door of the sheep, what symbol does He use to contrast those who are not? What does Jesus offer and what do the others offer (John 10:7-10)?
What are the characteristics of the sheep and of the good shepherd, the hired hand, and the wolf in relation to the sheep (John 10:8-16)?
Sheep ___________________________
Good Shepherd ___________________
Hired Hand _______________________
Wolf _____________________________
What is Jesus foreshadowing in verses 17 and 18?
How does someone know Jesus and listen to His voice? What are the things in your life that help you to follow the Good Shepherd and listen to His voice?
Read John 10:22-30
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
Discussion: In John 10:24-26, what do the Jews ask for? What answer does He give?
In verse 27, what characteristic of sheep does Jesus add to hearing and knowing?
Why is this third trait necessary for a sheep? How does this apply to us as believers in Jesus?
What promises does Jesus give to His sheep in verse 28 and 29?
What does this tell us about salvation?
What encouragement does this give you?
What do we learn about Jesus’ relationship with the Father? (John 10:27-30)
How does this connect with our theme of I AM?
Next Week: I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
John 11:25