Viewing the Pastor Properly

Viewing the Shepherd Properly

jere mi

Jeremiah 3:15 ESV

15 “ ‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Introduction: Jeremiah writes this passage and book. At the time of this writing Israel is divided into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).

God is disappointed with both Israel and Judah but especially Judah. Judah has now fallen into the same idolatry and wickedness as Israel. They both have now become blatant and treacherous in their sinfulness. God is not pleased. Even as God’s disappointment is evident in the context of this text , so is His grace, mercy and patience.

God is urging them to return to Him and states that when the return he will give them Shepherds.

DT: God provides shepherds to continually tend to the matters of His people and guide those people according to God’s will.

Transition: I believe this text is timely and should be taken seriously in even in our time. Jeremiah shows us a couple things to consider as we view the pastor/shepherd as a gift from God to the people of God.

I. The Shepherd is A Gift According to The Heart of God

A Handbook on Jeremiah Section Heading

is here used in the sense of “rulers” (TEV). It is sometimes necessary to express this as “I will place leaders [or, rulers] over you.”

The Book of Jeremiah (iii) Israel Summoned to Repent. Future Promises (3:12–18)

One of the important features about the days of restoration would be that Yahweh’s people would have rulers (rōʾîm, shepherds) after Yahweh’s own heart, that is, who would rule in accordance with his will

Shepherds, is here used in the sense of “rulers” or leaders. It is sometimes necessary to express this as “I will place leaders [or, rulers] over you.”

Shepherds, is here used in the sense of “rulers” or leaders. It is sometimes necessary to express this as “I will place leaders [or, rulers] over you.”

- given according to God’s heart

One of the important features about the days of restoration would be that Yahweh’s people would have rulers (rōʾîm, shepherds) after Yahweh’s own heart, that is, who would rule in accordance with his will.

- did not say he would be perfect

- did not say he would be perfect

- After my own heart is rendered literally by most translations; interprets the meaning to be “who obey me” and “according to my own choice.” Another common rendering is “whose thinking is like mine” or “who will care for you like I do.”

After my own heart is rendered literally by most translations; tev interprets the meaning to be “who obey me” and gecl “according to my own choice.” Another common rendering is “whose thinking is like mine” or “who will care for you like I do.”

So God tells, Israel that He will assign their leaders. That the leaders will be based upon His specification and according to His requirements.

These leaders/shepherds were required to hear God and act accordingly.

They were responsible for the people but were first and foremost mandated to align themselves in character with God.

They were to demonstrate the heart of God by leading with Grace, love, protection and correction.

Illus: Growing up I didn’t always understand nor appreciate why my daddy did some of the things he did. As I became older I realized he did what he did so that I would be better. He wanted me to mature and grow. Sometimes he did those things out of his pure love for me at other times he did them to protect me and then there were times he did things to correct me. Through it all, I didn’t like it all but I am grateful for him as a father and leader of our family not neglecting the assignment God gave him.

Transition: Likewise, our pastors are assigned to us in our lives by God. We may not always understand everything they are doing but be grateful for him not neglecting his assignment.

Illus:

Application: We thank God for our pastor. Get to appoint of understanding that He works for the Lord and must obey God. Thank God for your pastor.

Transition: Yes our Shepherd is A Gift According to God’s Heart but The Shepherd is also A Gift of Purpose

II. The Shepherd is a Gift of Necessity

not as a necessity for God , but for the necessity of God’s people

Illus:

Application: We need our pastor

Transition:

III. The Shepherd is a Gift of Purpose

The people of God were idolators. They were being influenced by the world and other nations. God was not pleased and God was appealing to Israel and Judah to repent. God tells them that He will give them shepherds whose responsibility will be to remind them of their need to repent.

How does the shepherd do that, you ask? Look at the text,

Jeremiah 3:15 ESV

15 “ ‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Feed you with wisdom and understanding continues the image of the shepherd who takes his flock to places where they can eat well. Some translators have understood this verse to mean that the rulers will teach the people knowledge and understanding; but others, and this is more common, understand it to mean that these rulers will care for the people wisely and competently.

A Handbook on Jeremiah Section Heading

Feed you with wisdom and understanding continues the image of the shepherd who takes his flock to places where they can eat well. Some translators have understood this verse to mean that the rulers will teach the people knowledge and understanding; but others, and this is more common, understand it to mean that these rulers will care for the people wisely and competently.

I agree with both. The shepherd is obligated to preach and teach so that the people grow in knowledge and understanding and he is also, to do it prudently.

Feed the people

ensuring the people are properly nourished

Define Knowledge- the result of perception and learning and reasoning.

-

Define Understanding - to have regard for and think about actively. Those things learned become a part of one’s life.

Illus:“The pastor teaches, though he must solicit his own classes. He heals, though without pills or knife. He is sometimes a lawyer, often a social worker, something of an editor, a bit of a philosopher and entertainer; a salesman, a decorative piece for public functions, and he is supposed to be a scholar. He visits the sick, marries people, buries the dead, labors to console those who sorrow, and to admonish those who sin, and tries to stay sweet when chided for not doing his duty.

“The pastor teaches, though he must solicit his own classes. He heals, though without pills or knife. He is sometimes a lawyer, often a social worker, something of an editor, a bit of a philosopher and entertainer; a salesman, a decorative piece for public functions, and he is supposed to be a scholar. He visits the sick, marries people, buries the dead, labors to console those who sorrow, and to admonish those who sin, and tries to stay sweet when chided for not doing his duty.

Application: Our pastor serves a purpose. Our pastor’s purpose is God given. Acknowledge he works for God and is responsible for our spiritual intake.

“He plans programs, appoints committees when he can get them; spends considerable time in keeping people out of each other’s hair; between times he prepares a sermon and preaches it on Sunday to those who don’t happen to have any other engagement. Then on Monday he smiles when some jovial chap roars, ‘What a job—one day a week!’ ”

Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 964.

Application: Our pastor serves a purpose. Our pastor’s purpose is God given. Acknowledge he works for God and is responsible for our spiritual intake. Appreciate the shepherd God has given us.

Transition: He can not preach what is popular. He has to preach and teach the Word of God!

Conclusion:

Jesus the Good Shepherd!