The Identity of the Shepherd

Introduction:

The Psalms present us with many metaphors to comfort and encourage us. However, up to this point, and even beyond this point, they will include human imagery of a more distant type where we are promised a king or a deliverer of some sort, or they will include impersonal things like rocks, shields, and fortresses. David, in the 23rd Psalm, presents the most comprehensive and intimate metaphor in all of the Psalms: a Shepherd. The scriptures do not leave us in the dark concerning the details of who our Shepherd is and what our Shepherd is like. Join with me in a meditation on the Identity of the Shepherd.

I. The Shepherd Is Identified as the God Who Rescued Israel from Egypt (Ps 23:1; Ex 3:14)

A. His character is revealed in his name (Ps 23:1; Ex 3:14)

1. He is eternal (Ex 3:14)

Explanation: Our Shepherd is always the great I AM, never the remember when I WAS or the someday I WILL BE.

Quotation: “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Ex 3:14)

 2. He is unchanging (Ex 3:14; Mal 3:6)

Explanation: Yahweh means, “I have always been what I shall always be.” This indicates his unchanging nature.

Quotation: “For I am the LORD, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Mal 3:6)

B. His character is revealed in his shepherding activities

1. He is strong (Mic 5:4; Zec 9:16)

Explanation: A good shepherd is required to have a certain amount of strength. Not only is a good shepherd required to fight off predators at times, but a good shepherd will need to literally carry his sheep at times. Our God is strong!

Quotation: “And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; And they shall abide: For now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.” (Mic 5:4)

Quotation: “And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: For they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.” (Zec 9:16)

2. He is transcendent (Ps 80:1)

Explanation: This verse indicates that “God is much greater than creation.” In other words, “God is far above the creation in the sense that he is greater than the creation and he is independent of it.” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p 267)

Quotation: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.” (Ps 80:1)

3. He is immanent (Ps 80:1)

Explanation: “God is also very much involved in creation, for it is continually dependent on him for its existence and its functioning. The technical term used to speak of God’s involvement in creation is the word immanent, meaning ‘remaining in’ creation.” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p 267)

Quotation: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.” (Ps 80:1)

4. He is wise (Is 40:11)

Explanation: Isaiah makes it clear here that God is wise. He knows exactly what his sheep require to flourish and will, in his infinite love and power, provide it.

Quotation: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, And carry them in his bosom, And shall gently lead those that are with young.” (Is 40:11)

5. He is just (Jer 23:3)

Explanation: Why is it that the remnant of the flock has been scattered to various countries? A just God has punished them for their sin: their rejection of his laws and ordinances.

Quotation: “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.” (Je 23:3)

6. He is merciful (Jer 23:3; Lam 3:22–23)

Explanation: God is just, but God is also merciful. His punishment of his people will not last forever. His mercy will result in the restoration of Israel to her land, just as his mercy will be extended to all of those who follow him.

Quotation: “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.” (Je 23:3)

Quotation: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (La 3:22–23)

II. The Shepherd Is Identified as the God Who Came to Be with His People (Jn 10:11, 30; Jn 1:1–3; Heb 13:20; 1 Pe 2:25; 5:4)

Quotation: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:11)

Quotation: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” (Heb 13:20)

Quotation: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Pe 2:25)

Quotation: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Pe 5:4)

A. His character is revealed in his name (Mt 1:21)

1. He is eternal (Mt 1:21)

Explanation: Jesus is the name given to Israel’s Messiah, and notice what is said of the Messiah, Jesus: “he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus is therefore identified as a member of the eternal Godhead: the great I AM!

Quotation: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Mt 1:21)

2. He is unchanging (Jn 10:30; Jas 1:17; Heb 13:8)

Explanation: As the New Testament clearly ties Jesus to David’s revelation in Psalm 23, it leaves us in no doubt of the immutability of Jesus Christ.

Quotation: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (Jas 1:17)

Quotation: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb 13:8)

B. His character is revealed in his divinity (Jn 1:1–3; 10:30)

Exhortation: John leaves no doubt as to the identity of the Messiah. He is clearly equated with the Father, the God of Israel.

Quotation: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (Jn 1:1–3)

Quotation: “I and my Father are one.” (Jn 10:30)

1. He is strong (Jn 10:30; Mt 8:8–9, 23–27)

Explanation: Natures of Exousia and Dunamis.

Quotation: “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” (Mt 8:8–9)

Quotation: “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” (Mt 8:23–27)

2. He is transcendent (Jn 10:30; Col 1:16–19)

Explanation: This verse indicates that “God is much greater than creation.” In other words, “God is far above the creation in the sense that he is greater than the creation and he is independent of it.” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p 267)

Quotation: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” (Col 1:16–19)

3. He is immanent (Jn 10:30; Heb 1:1–3)

Explanation: “God is also very much involved in creation, for it is continually dependent on him for its existence and its functioning. The technical term used to speak of God’s involvement in creation is the word immanent, meaning ‘remaining in’ creation.” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p 267)

Quotation: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Heb 1:1–3)

4. He is wise (Jn 10:30; 1 Cor 1:24)

Explanation: Christ is clearly declared by Paul to be the wisdom of God. This equates him to the wisdom so lauded by Solomon in the Proverbs.

Quotation: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Co 1:24)

5. He is just (Jn 10:30; Acts 3:13–15; 1 Pe 3:18)

Explanation: If the God of the Old Testament is just, then his servant, the only begotten Son, who is one with him must also be just.

Quotation: “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” (Ac 3:13–15)

Quotation: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Pe 3:18)

6. He is merciful (Jn 10:30; Heb 2:17)

Explanation: God’s justice is not ignored, but in Christ is perfectly balanced with his mercy.

Quotation: “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17)

Conclusion:

Charles Spurgeon once said, “No one can trust providence till he distrusts himself; and no one can say, 'The Lord is my Shepherd,' until he has given up every idle notion that he can control himself or manage his own interests. Alas, we are, most of us, wise above what is written, and we are too vain to acknowledge the wisdom of God. In our self-esteem we imagine that our reason can rule our purposes, and we never doubt our own power to accomplish our own intentions. And then, by a little maneuvering, we think we can extricate ourselves from our difficulties.”

Make no mistake, you and I need a Shepherd, and we need one desperately. Let us then make sure to heed the call to be one of his flock. We know that membership in the flock is open to all. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Re 22:17)