Monthly Archives: July 2012

Shepherding Part VII – The Shepherd’s Shepherd

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“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”– Psalm 23:1 (NASB)

Everyone answers to someone.  There are many that think they don’t, but they are wrong.  I can remember conversations when a Soldier would tell me they were leaving the military because they didn’t want anyone telling them what to do.  I became amused after I would start asking the Soldier their plans for the future.  It usually boiled down to work or school.  Then I would ask them if they ever considered they would answer to an employer or an instructor.  Then there was always that “ah-ha” moment when the light bulb came on and they realized what I already knew, everyone answers to someone.

Granted, we may not answer right away, and by answer I mean reap the benefits or suffer the consequences of how we act, but we will answer at some point.  Children answer to their parents.  Parents answer to others for their children.  Parents also answer to each other, or their boss, or their customers if self-employed.  Soldiers answer to superiors, Generals answer to elected officials, and elected officials answer to the citizenry (at least in theory).

Likewise, and I am sure this will come as no surprise, we in the Church answer to each other and to God.  As shepherds of God’s people we will answer for how we led (Hebrew 13:17).  David recognized this on multiple occasions and captured it with what is probably the best known Psalm.  I find it both interesting and revealing that David, the most famous shepherd, referred to the Lord as his shepherd.

I hesitated to tackle these verses in my continuing personal study of shepherding.  You see these verses everywhere and I am sure what I write here will not be new.  Still, I realized I couldn’t avoid the most famous shepherding scriptures ever.  Instead, it is time to examine these verses and see what can be learned.  So here goes.

Is there any doubt we should want the Lord as our shepherd?  I mean, who in the Church wouldn’t, especially after reading the six verses that comprise Psalm 23?  I’m thinking if David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), want’s the Lord as his shepherd, who am I to differ?  But why did David want the Lord as his shepherd?  The simple answer is “well duh, He is God after all!”  While that is sufficient enough for me, there are still reasons contained in the remaining verses that bear further investigation.

The first reason for me is because God will lead us to a better future.  I am sure there are many reasons behind “green pastures” and “quiet waters”, but as a shepherd what stands out to me is they are representative of both the blessings we enjoy now as well as future blessings we will enjoy later.  Why will we “not want”?  Because we can be content (Philippians 4:11) knowing that God is leading us to a better future and will meet our needs along the way.  We shepherds should also realize God has entrusted us with providing a better future for our flock along the way.  I think this can be difficult at times and varied by congregation to some degree, but as long as the future fits God’s purpose we will be alright.  One way to a better future is providing an environment where we can “restore our souls” and meet the physical and spiritual needs of our flock to the best of our ability.

So how do we create this environment?  Well, according to Psalm 23, it seems we create this environment the same way the Lord does, by guiding in “paths of righteousness.”  I never thought of this before this study, but for there to be a path someone must have been there before.  Someone has to have walked that path and by doing so demonstrated they are leading by example.  If you continue that thought then verse 4 reveals where those paths lead.

Many a Soldier has left relative safety of a secure compound to travel through the valley of darkness and death.  A multitude of books will tell you the reason they leave safety and security is for their comrades.  A multitude of books will also tell you what they rely on when they are out in the valley is the mutual feeling of having each other’s back as well as their training.

The second reason to want God as our shepherd is so we have no fear.  Notice there is no promise of safety, there is no promise that you won’t be physically harmed as you travel the valley.  However, we should not fear because our training in God’s word should sustain us (1 Timothy 4:6).  We should not fear because our brothers and sisters go with us to face the same dangers (Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 11:35 – 40).  We should also not fear because, similar to the way sappers mark a safe passage through a minefield, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has been there before (1 Peter 2:21) to mark a safe path for us.  We only need fear if we stray from the path of righteousness and into the minefield of sin.

We recently conducted our annual hike to the summit of a 14er (14,000+ foot mountaintop).  During the hike I took along a five foot long walking staff made of Alaskan Birch.  The night before the hike we joked about it being the “rod of discipline” (Proverb 22:15).  However, during the hike some of the young men and women I was with commented they would like to see a mountain lion try to attack me with my staff because they felt I would get the better end of the deal.  We can also learn the third reason for wanting God as our shepherd and a lesson about our own shepherding by the role of the rod and staff in verse 4.  In this case, like on my hike, they are a comfort, symbols of protection and strength.  I would rather be viewed with staff in hand this way.  I am confident we as leaders and shepherds should use the rod and staff for gentle nudging and encouragement before resulting to the final “rod of discipline” alternative (figuratively of course).

I was taught Middle Eastern tradition holds that even if your enemy is in your house you are to extend to them the same hospitality as a welcome guest.  I wonder if this was not what David had in mind with verse 5.  In fact, David indicates we will be honored in our enemy’s presence while on paths of righteousness.  So, the fourth reason to have God as our shepherd is that paths of righteousness will lead us to the spiritual high ground and corresponding moral high ground in any matter and if we stray we will walk into a minefield with potentially horrible consequences for the spiritual well-being of our flock.

As a leader I appreciate how David concludes the Psalm.  He tells us the next reason for following God as our shepherd on paths of righteousness is because goodness and mercy will follow in our wake.  What does that goodness and mercy look like?  I am not sure for every circumstance.  What I am sure of is goodness and mercy require action by people, and if we follow paths of righteousness we will influence our congregation to produce acts of goodness and mercy.   These are two great things to be known for in the local community.

Finally, David states we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  In this case “dwell” could also mean “return”.  Just as a Soldier returns to a safe haven after being on patrol, we have the promise of returning to what God intended for man in the first place, that better future of living eternally in a safe place with Him.  If we have served God properly as shepherds we will also guide others to the same as they conduct acts of goodness and mercy while they walk the same righteous paths, and so on for each consecutive generation (i.e. descendants following their ancestors of the Lord’s house) until Christ returns to claim His own.

May your blessings exceed mine today and all your days. – DEM

Shepherding Part VI – The Lord Will Build a House

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“In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, `Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar?’ ”                                  – 1 Chronicles 17 : 6 (NASB)

During the past year we decided to make a deliberate attempt to strengthen our relationship with a sister congregation a few miles down the I-25 corridor.  We’ve spent time together in fellowship, participated in a deacon’s seminar together, and spent time in devotion to the Lord.  Last week, our congregation was invited to join our sister congregation for a 4th of July fellowship and celebration.  While attending the celebration I spent some time talking with one of their shepherds and a deacon.  The shepherd wondered what God has in store for our two congregations that are growing closer together.  We conversed about that thought for a while and then he said we should be quiet and listen for God to answer the question.  I thought the shepherd’s question and comment wise, powerful, and insightful (as wells as worth “borrowing” and including in my devotional that night!).

Since God no longer holds conversations with those of us who are His children we will have to be discerning to identify what God wants our congregations to achieve for His purpose.  I have come to see over the years how many times the discernment is not realized until after the fact.  However, this has not always been the case.

In 1 Chronicles 17 (and 2 Samuel 7) we have a record of one of many instances where God communicates directly to man.  King David is early in his rule.  God has been with him as he slew Goliath, was victorious in battle, survived Saul’s pursuit, was crowned king and is “dwelling in a house of cedar”.  David is enjoying God’s blessings and wants to honor God by building a house for the Ark of the Covenant, presumably of cedar (vs. 6).  Nathan tells David to do what is in his heart because God is with him.  At this point God issues what I will call a course correction.

God sends a message through the prophet Nathan to David.  God does not want David to build Him a house of any kind.  God goes on to say He has had ample time for any of the previous leaders to build Him a house if only He had commanded it be done, which He didn’t.  God’s response has nothing to do with His love for David.  In fact, God goes on to proclaim a blessing to David’s descendants reiterating the same blessing given to Abraham in Genesis 12 and for that matter to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3.  However, the Lord, the ultimate shepherd, is using the opportunity to teach David (and us) some valuable lessons.

First, notice there is no record of either Nathan or David asking God if He wanted a house.  Granted, both of them realize God has been with David since he was anointed approximately 15 years earlier while Jesse and David’s siblings watched.  Nathan, like Samuel before him, has either seen or heard all that God has done for David and David has experienced it.  However, God is reminding both of them they might want to check with Him before proceeding with any plans.  While we don’t have a local prophet to consult and since God doesn’t reveal His will the same way he did to David, we do have the avenue of studying God’s word and prayer, both of which are highly recommended before any new undertaking for the congregation.

Second, I believe David was making an honest mistake by wanting to honor God with a cedar house.  After all, during David’s time the cedar was considered luxurious.  They were the first of trees (1 Kings 4:33), the “glory of Lebanon” (Isaiah 35:2; 60:13), strong, (Psalms 29:4-5), tall (Amos 2:9; 2 Kings 19:23), majestic (2 Kings 14:9), excellent (Song of Solomon 5:15), and considered God’s trees (Psalms 104:16).[1]  David’s mistake is not in wanting to honor God.  His mistake is in how he planned to do so.  If David built a house of cedar for God it would in effect place God at David’s level of earthly king instead of exalting God as magnificent Lord, Creator, and Maker.  While I don’t think it happens often, we leaders must always be wary of knowingly or unknowingly trying to bring God down to our level.  Rather, we should be asking ourselves how we can lead our flock to exalt the Most High God in everything we do.

Third, God makes it clear to David that He does not dwell in a house.  Even when Solomon built the Temple, God did not dwell there.  Instead, it was an established place where God met the High Priest, just as He did in the Tabernacle before and just as He does when we gather in a building now to worship Him.  God was not about to let David think he could confine the Lord to a building and thankfully for us God is not confined to our buildings today.  That is not to say buildings and the associated grounds are not important.  They are as important today as the Tabernacle and Temple of old.  Buildings and grounds are often the first thing potential visitors see.  The impression they give will let that visitor know how much the members appreciate the blessings of having a building and grounds.  We feel our building and grounds are a blessing that God has entrusted us with, so much so that we even had a special offering (something we usually avoid) to make some improvements.

However, we understand that, just as God explains to David in our passage, the building is not to be the focal point of our faith, but rather one of many tools (albeit expensive!) for us to demonstrate our faith.  The building provides us a location to assemble for worship, to host life events such as showers, weddings, and memorial services, and to gather in preparation for community events as well.  I played sports in high school, and I liken the building to the locker room.   It is where we go to strengthen bonds and encourage one another, tend to our wounds, and refuel for the “game”, which is going out into the world and fulfilling God’s purpose for each and everyone one of us.  Let’s face it, real shepherding is done where the people are, not where the building is.  Sometimes the two are the same, but not always.  So let us always be careful to remember the building is a tool, the locker room, a place with an address, but it is not the church and while God is there when we worship, He doesn’t just hang out there waiting for the next Sunday to roll around.

Fourth, God is more than our best laid plans.  Look at not just what God is saying but what He is doing in verses 9 – 14.  In effect God is telling David thanks for the house of cedar idea, I don’t need it, but let me tell you what I am going to do for you.  God then reaffirms His plan first given to Eve in Genesis 3 and then to Abraham in Genesis 12 by telling David that his house (i.e. descendant) will establish a kingdom that lasts forever!  By doing this God reveals just how powerful He is to David and casting a vision far beyond what David could comprehend.  The lesson for us is God is bigger than us, bigger than any building, and will reveal how we fit in His plans if we only seek to honor and glorify Him by doing His will.  Then he will bless us beyond any measure by which we can honor Him, just as he does today with a place in His kingdom, the promise of eternal life, and the promise our “seed” will continue as future generations of the church.

May your blessings exceed mine today and all your days. – DEM

[1] Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. “Entry for ‘CEDAR'”. “International Standard Bible Encyclopedia”. <http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T1912&gt;. 1915.