Biblical Motifs - The Shepherd

(Note: This is part of an ongoing series that is best read in order. If you have not already done so, you can read the previous posts here.)

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I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, -- John 10:14

In John 10 we come to another important (and prominent) Biblical motif, that of the shepherd. Of course, shepherds were common in the land of Israel as well as ancient cultures in general. All of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were Shepherds, as were Moses and King David.

Today, when we think of a shepherd, we tend to think of noble men who guarded a flock of sheep with great care. Perhaps we imagine the Nativity when angels announced the birth of Christ to a group of shepherds who were dutifully keeping watch over their flock. But in reality, shepherds were generally uneducated men of low regard who lived on the fringes of society. They were disrespected at best, and despised at worst.

Of course, the chief task of the shepherd was to take care of sheep, and God's people are likened unto sheep. That makes for an interesting comparison, because sheep are defenseless, easily lead, prone to wander, and they are not so bright. Sheep are also easy prey for predatory animals (like wolves for example). In addition to protecting the sheep, it was also the shepherds job to make sure that his flock was properly fed and rested. This made the shepherd indispensable to the sheep.

When we see the word shepherd in Scripture, we must distinguish between "a" shepherd and "The" Shepherd. God has always appointed men to shepherd His people. Sometimes that shepherd would be a prophet like Moses, sometimes it was a king like David, and today the local pastor has been given a charge to act as a shepherd. All of these are examples of an under shepherd. But then, there is the Chief Shepherd to Whom the under shepherd is accountable -- Jesus Himself.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows each of us by name, and He laid down His life for His sheep. He is the Good Shepherd who carried our guilt and shame and was despised and rejected by men. He is the Good Shepherd who was bruised for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. But Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd, in an amazing paradox, the Good Shepherd is also the Lamb Who was slain:

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. -- Isaiah 53:3-7

Truly, the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He restores my soul and leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake, and He knows me by name.