Sheep Without a Shepherd (2)

Introduction

In the Bible, one of the primary metaphors for the relationship between leaders and those they lead is that of shepherds and sheep. We do not have to be shepherds ourselves or experts about sheep to know that when sheep lack a shepherd, disaster looms. Sheep require shepherds. Without a shepherd, a herd of sheep will scatter and individual sheep will become lost, and lost sheep will likely die from injury, starvation, or attack. On the other hand, sheep that have a good shepherd will usually thrive. They will be kept together, they will be guided to safe and plentiful pastures for feeding; and they will be protected from predators.

The Lord chose this illustration in both the Old and New Covenant eras to discuss leadership among His people. If the metaphor itself wasn’t enough, the Bible addresses “shepherd-less” people, and never in the Bible is that described as a good thing. Sheep without a shepherd is always pictured as a bad and dangerous situation. If that is the case, then we should be sobered by the thought of being sheep without a shepherd. On the other hand, if we are sheep guided by godly shepherds, we can expect blessing.

When it comes to elders, many Christians are afraid of appointing elders. They are afraid the men are not qualified enough, not perfect enough, or that like worldly leaders, they will become corrupt and abuse their power. We should look for qualified men, and it is possible for men, even elders, to abuse their power. But we should be just as concerned about being shepherd-less. The solution to our worries is not to avoid appointing elders. The solution is to take the Word of God seriously and work diligently to develop and appoint godly men as shepherd-elders. Until we do, we are lacking. But if we will, we can expect blessing.

Sheep Without Shepherds

Post-Moses Israel

Israel nearing the end of wandering.

Numbers 27:16–17 ESV

“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.”

If Israel struggled with leadership like Moses, how would they fare with no leadership?

Judges 21:25 ESV

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Moses was concerned for the people’s welfare, and thus concerned they were led properly. If we are concerned for our spiritual welfare, the welfare of our families, and the welfare of our congregation, then we too should desire godly leadership.

Defeated Israel

Setting: Ahab planning war to take back Ramoth-Gilead, and Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of the Lord. Micaiah was the prophet brought.

1 Kings 22:17 ESV

And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’ ”

Israel was going to be defeated in that battle. Ahab was going to die. The picture used to describe defeat was shepherd-less sheep scattered over the mountain—easy prey with no option but to flee.

We are the Lord’s army, but if we are shepherd-less, how effective will we be? How likely are we to gain ground for the Lord? How safe are we from the enemy?

Absent Shepherds

Ezekiel 34: God rebukes the leaders of Israel because they have been terrible leaders. In shepherd language, they had taken wool and food but not fed the sheep. The result is that the people were essentially shepherd-less.

Ezekiel 34:4–10 ESV

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.

While Ezekiel 34 is a picture of bad shepherds, can we expect better with no shepherds?

How are the weak strengthened, the sick healed, and the injured bound up without shepherds?

How are the straying brought back and who is seeking the lost if there are not shepherds?

Because Israel was essentially shepherd-less, they:

Were scattered over the face of the earth (lost)

Had become easy prey and food for wild beasts

No one was searching for the lost to bring them back

Many fear that bad elders would be worse than no elders. While that may be true in some ways, in many ways the two situations aren’t that much different!

!! This is not justification for appointing unqualified men just so that we have elders. It is a reminder of how seriously we need to consider this subject, and how dedicated we should be to developing qualified men and appointing them.

Idolatry

Zechariah 10:2 ESV

For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.

Zechariah describes what people do when they lack leaders—they search for guidance in the wrong place. Judah lacked good leaders, and the people began turning to false household gods—they began committing idolatry!

The people wandered from the truth, and because of this they faced affliction.

If there is no shepherd to feed the sheep, they will wander off in search of food. Without leadership, people are more prone to wander off into false doctrine. When there is no guidance, people will seek guidance, and may find it in dangerous places.

Jesus’ Thoughts on Shepherd-less Sheep

Matthew 9:35–38 ESV

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Jesus described shepherd-less people as “harassed” and “helpless”

bad-leadership, temptation, sin, the world—all these things harass and trouble people. How are people to overcome the troubles they deal with?

Without the guiding hand of a shepherd, harassed sheep are usually helpless to escape or overcome.

We should be praying for elders! While many use this passage to emphasize the need to pray for more preachers, it can equally refer to (and maybe more-so) the need for shepherds. After all, that is what Jesus says was lacking.

Mark 6:34 ESV

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Jesus had compassion (pity) on those who were shepherd-less. He does not desire His people to exist in such a state.

Jesus taught the people—without shepherds, how well are we taught?

Jesus fed the people—while this was a physical feeding, it pictured the spiritual bread of life that Jesus was. And it reminds us that true shepherds feed their sheep!

Sheep With A Shepherd

The picture of shepherd-less sheep is a dire one indeed! We should not take such a situation lightly. We should hear and heed the Bible’s warning about this condition.

On a positive note, recognizing the danger of being shepherd-less also shows the blessings of having shepherds!

When there are shepherds, we will be spiritually fed. Being fed helps us overcome weakness and become strong.

When there are shepherds, we will be less likely to wander away from the truth.

When there are shepherds and someone does wander, there will be shepherds to seek the wanderer and bring them back.

When there are shepherds we have protection against false-teaching and false doctrine.

When we have shepherds, we have help—help that can assist us during times of trouble; help that can provide guidance and healing when we are suffering; help that can give counsel to help us navigate difficult and trying circumstances.

When we have shepherds, we can be unified, not scattered.

We should overcome our fears about leadership. Godly leadership is not a burden—it is a great blessing! We should not be content to be sheep without a shepherd.

We need men who will provide the godly leadership of shepherd-elders. If we don’t have that, we must work for it.

If you feel like we already have these blessings and that there are men performing this work of feeding, protecting, guiding, and seeking, then is there a reason they are not recognized, honored, and appointed as elders?

Conclusion

The metaphor of sheep and shepherds is just that—a metaphor. And thus there are areas where the metaphor breaks down. In our case, that is a good thing. One key difference between real sheep and us, is sheep do not choose whether they are shepherd-less or not. We, on the other hand, do. If we see that we are without shepherds, we don’t have to remain that way. We can choose to trust in God’s plan and follow his ways. We can determine to seek and develop men who can faithfully shepherd us. We can cast off the danger of a shepherd-less existence, and choose the strength and protection found in God’s pattern of a church guided by godly shepherd-elders. So what will we choose? Will we continue as a shepherd-less flock, or will we diligently work towards the blessings to be found in following God’s way?