The Pastor/ Shepherd

     United with Christ the perfect shepherd and sacrificial lamb, all of God’s people become sheep—but not all of God’s people become shepherds. In the new covenant, the elders of the church are uniquely designated as shepherds who join in the work of the Chief Shepherd (John 21:15-19; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 5:4).

     But what does it mean to serve as a shepherd leader?

     The call to serve as a shepherd among God’s new covenant people is a gracious designation from God that none of us deserves. Anyone who is called to serve in this capacity “desires a noble work” (1 Timothy 3:1). Precisely because the role of a shepherd is such a high calling and noble work, it’s crucial for pastors today to understand what it meant to be a shepherd in the old covenant so that we can understand better what shepherd leadership should look like in the church today. One of the clearest expressions of the character of a shepherd can be found in the description of God’s work with King David.

The Character of a Shepherd

     After settling into a cedar-paneled palace, David concluded that the ark of God’s covenant should dwell in a temple instead of a tent. After rejecting David’s plan to build a temple, God established an everlasting covenant with David and his descendants. God began his response to David’s request by reminding David that he had taken him “from the pasture and from following the sheep” (2 Samuel 7:8). Then, God related the ways that God had been David’s shepherd during his rise to power:

• God had remained present with David (“I have been with you,” 7:9; see also Psalm 23:3-4).
• God had rescued David (“I have destroyed all your enemies,” 7:9; see also Psalm 23:4-5).
• God was providing a name for David and a place for his people (“I will make a name for you…I will establish a place,” 7:9-10; see also Psalm 23:1-2, 5).

     This description of God’s care for David provides a snapshot of the ideal practices of a shepherd in the Old Testament: A shepherd is one who remains with his sheep, rescues them from danger, and provides them with a place where their needs are met. This pattern of being present to protect and to provide also paints a beautiful portrait of what it means to serve as a shepherd leader in the church of Jesus Christ.

Partial article from Timothy Paul Jones “Leadership the Importance of the Pastor with his People.”