The Shepherd King
The Shepherd King
Jeremiah 23:2-6
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD. “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
Introduction: In 1978, the nation experienced the single worst case of mass murder/suicide in our history. 913 people; men and women, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons died either by killing themselves or were shot by another, because of their involvement with one man, Jim Jones. How could people submit to this man, killing themselves and their children? One columnist by the name of Morton Kondrake suggested that although we can blame Jim Jones, sooner or later we must wrestle with the fact that there is a little Jim Jones in all of us—a fascination with absolute authority and power. A line from the Disney movie “Aladdin” has the Genie describing what is like to be a Genie; “Absolute cosmic power…Itty bitty living space.” Jim Jones became a leader only because people followed him, and we are a nation of potential Jim Joneses.
The problem of poor leadership is nothing new. We need only look at some of our political leaders today to see example after example of poor leadership. President Clinton and Monica and Newt Gingerish and his mistress just to name a few.
That brings us to the problem in our text. Jeremiah was rebuking the leaders of Israel for neglecting their duty to care for the people. But those evil leaders came from a nation full of evil followers. It was a vicious circle. Sinful people become wicked leaders, who in turn help to lead people further into sin. Let’s talk about breaking the cycle.
1. A Look at Bad Leaders
A. Our text points out that bad leaders scatter their followers and drive them away from safety. Mention a name like David Koresh, and our minds conjure up pictures of people blindly following a leader who has taken them out of this confusing world into the closed-off world of a cult, only to have them become even more confused and lost.
B. Unfortunately, not all bad leaders have been outside Christianity. The pages of church history reveal corrupt popes and bishops and pastors. Some were more interested in money and power than tending God’s sheep. Not long ago many gladly gave their money to certain TV evangelists who misused it.
C. Its bad enough when leaders grab for money and power. It’s worse when they cause followers to wander away from Christ the King. The very kings of Israel and Judah, introduced much of the idol worship that led God’s people away from him and toward hell. Today some leaders and teachers within churches have caused their people to doubt what Scripture says about Jesus and about his plan of salvation. There are some who not only claim that the Bible supports such things as homosexuality, and sexual relations outside of marriage, but there is now a group of “Distinguished clergy” who are advocating abortion as a Bible practice supported by scripture. Others say that following Jesus is not the only route to heaven; that Jesus is not the Good Shepherd who laid down his life and then actually took it up again; or that Christ does not now reign with all authority in heaven and earth. Bad leaders still cause God’s people to stray even today.
2. A Look at You and Me
A. You and I are part of the problem. Unfortunately, leaders and followers alike are equally sinful human beings, prone to turn away from God and follow selfish interests. One woman put it like this: “When you get to know yourself pretty well, you realize that you’re capable of doing just about every kind of evil.” We may not outwardly murder and steal, but we have our own discreet ways of breaking God’s commandments.
B. Ever since the first man and woman revolted against our good Leader in Eden, we have no innate desire to do anything else but sin. We are all Adam’s sinful followers, and if we have the opportunity, we can all be sinful leaders as well.
C. We’re in desperate need of a good leader to take command. Unless somebody steps in, the circle continues: sinful people become sinful leaders, who in turn help lead others into sin. This is why God stepped in.
3. A Look at Christ
A. Thank God, he doesn’t leave us stuck in our circle of misery. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus told his disciples, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’ ” (Mt 26:31; Zech 13:7). The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, then takes it up again. His voice calls to the cross, leading us to repentance. There also he forgives and remakes us into sheep who recognize his voice and follow him alone.
B. Our text tells us the name of the Good Shepherd: “The Lord our Righteousness.” He’s called by that name because his perfect life of righteousness becomes our property through faith in him. When two people exchange wedding vows, they give to each other all that they are, and all they have becomes joint property. Jesus has taken away our sin and has given us his property—his righteousness. Jesus is the only shepherd King who can restore us to our Father in heaven.
C. That means we followers have hope. Week after week, we may fall into the same sins. But the voice of our King calls us out of that self-destructive circle. Jesus has dealt with our sins once and for all. He is “The Lord Our Righteousness.” Through faith in him, God forgives our sins and declares us to be righteous. When your kids don’t behave, when your spouse disappoints you, when the people at work turn into jerks, the voice of our Shepherd King comes to you and reminds you that he died to forgive them as well. And wherever there is forgiveness of sins, there is hope. The death and resurrection of Jesus empowers his followers to live like the people he has already declared them to be: his forgiven and redeemed.
D. Most of us followers also are leaders—parents, bosses, role models, etc. Being forgiven makes all the difference in the world in being a good leader. Through Faith we are children of the King of Righteousness. We can now follow the example of Jesus our King who gives us the example; who puts others first, who puts the best construction on everything, who forgives, who came to serve and not be served. Christ the King comes in each and every believer.
Conclusion: Even though we may have shuddered at the thought of a little Jim Jones in each of us, we don’t have to stay in the circle of “sinful follower—sinful leader.” When our King gives us his righteousness, he puts us in a good circle. From forgiven followers come leaders who seek to follow Christ and, in turn, lead others to follow him too. The King Cometh when you and I go out into the world and be the Leaders He has made us to be.
