THE SHEPHERD KING
Any nation's rise and fall depend on its leader. If that
leader is good and righteous, people in that nation experience peace, joy, and
prosperity. But if that leader is evil, people live under fear and insecurity
and will be deprived of fundamental human rights. How does God deal with wicked
leaders who only profit themselves, oppress, and do not take care of people?
How would God restore people's faith in Himself and one another?
Last week, we saw that King Nebuchadnezzar took Israel
and Judah into exile to Babylon due to people's rebellion and leadership
failure. The Prophet Isaiah prophesied how God would restore Hope to those
living in spiritual darkness through His son and establish His eternal Kingdom
on the earth. A southern prophet, Micah, prophesied where this King would be
born and how He would lead His people. I title this sermon The Shepherd
King. Micah 5:1-4
I. Leaders are called to
lead people as a shepherd would lead his flock.
In the OT, God positions Himself as a Shepherd of people,
especially the nation of Israel. To learn more about God being the shepherd of
his people, refer to my sermons on Psalm 23. Here are some scriptures on how
God leads his people as a shepherd would lead his flock. The Psalmist declared,
"Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are
his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3. Jeremiah prophesied,
"'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch
over his flock like a shepherd.' Jeremiah 31:10
God raised other leaders and kings
to shepherd his people. For example, Moses was a shepherd tending his
father-in-law's sheep when God called him. He remained a shepherd of a larger
flock, leading God's people, Israel, out of Egypt. "You led Your people
like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Ps 77:20). God raised David
from sheep Pens to shepherd his people Israel. David shepherded with integrity.
Ps 78:70-72. He used a non-Israelite King named Cyrus as God's "anointed"
shepherd, a Hebrew term for "messiah." Isaiah 44:23-45:8:
Not all the leaders and kings were
as faithful as Moses and David were in leading God's flock. Several of them
abused their leadership and ill-treated people entrusted to them. Ezekiel
explains God's charge and dealings against the wicked shepherds of Israel. We
read in Ezekiel 34 that instead of taking care of the weak and healing the sick,
injured, or stray sheep, they ruled them harshly and brutally. Instead of
feeding and caring for the flock, they cared for themselves. The sheep were
scattered and were attacked by wild animals.
How did God deal with such selfish and unjust leadership?
He removes those wicked leaders from their leadership positions and blocks
provisions from their way so they can no longer feed themselves. He rescues the
flock from their control and abuse. Now, what happens to the flock without a
leader or a shepherd? God himself will be their shepherd again.
We
read, in Ezekiel 34:11-15, "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I
myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after
his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will
rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds
and darkness." I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,
declares the Sovereign Lord." Micah unfolds how God would execute His plan
of redemption.
II. Micah's Prophecy of
the Shepherd King
Approximately 150
years after Ezekiel, Micah prophesied a few more details of the future King's
nature, Kingdom, and birthplace. Micah 5:1-4 1. 1"Marshal your troops now,
city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler
on the cheek with a rod.
2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are
small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be
ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." 3 Therefore,
Israel will be abandoned until the time when she, who is in labor, bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
4. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength
of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live
securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth." We
will examine its fulfillment next week, and today, we will look at its broader
implications. This prophecy contains two critical aspects of the future ruler
of Israel.
The future of Israel will be a King of a different kind,
establishing a different kind of Kingdom. By his birth in Bethlehem, he claimed
the same ancestry as King David. He displayed his kingly authority, making his
enemies cringe with fear and followers filled with wonder. Where did the wise men go when they came
searching for the child born in Bethlehem? They went to the royal palace in
Jerusalem because they were waiting for a King who would save Israel from the
Roman Empire's tyranny. They asked King Herod, "Where is the one who has
been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to
worship him." 3. When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all
Jerusalem with him." Matthew 2:2-3.Even at such a young age, Mary's child,
Jesus, sent such terror into his enemies' hearts.
But as he grew up, unlike the earthly kings and rulers of
his day, he would not operate with arrogance and pride. Instead, he was gentle,
compassionate, and caring. Like a shepherd, He led his followers, fulfilling
Micah's prophecy: "He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of
the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God." Hence, we call
Him The Shepherd King. You know who I am talking about. His name is Jesus
Christ, Mary's child.
While He was on the earth, He fed the hungry, healed the
sick, the disabled, and the blind, raised the dead, and delivered people
oppressed by demonic spirits. He preached the message of the Kingdom, calling
people to repent. To all those who repented and believed in Him, he gave them
the right to become the children of God. Like a Good Shepherd, He laid his life
down so that the sheep that did not yet belong to him could become His flock
under his care.
What is the Shepherd King doing in the World today? The
Shepherd King Jesus is very active through His Holy Spirit in the affairs of
the World. He is protecting and perfecting His flock, the Church, and the bride
from inside and outside enemy attacks. He is humbling and even removing world
leaders who mistreat God's people. He is feeding God's people with the words of
Truth, and one day; He will return as the King to judge the living and the
dead. Matt 25:31-46.He will establish His eternal Kingdom on earth and rule in
righteousness and Justice. All those who believe in Him now and follow Him will
also reign and rule with our Shepherd King forever.
In the meantime, what are we to do as the children of the
Shepherd King? We are the shepherd princes and princesses and are called to
follow in the footsteps of our heavenly Shepherd King and shepherd Church and
the community wherever we are placed. Tim Laniak helps us understand our role
as shepherds in our communities. "Every community has leaders. And all leaders are shepherds. Pastors
and Politicians. Corporate executives and stay-at-home parents. Chaplains and
coaches. Teachers and health care workers. Construction supervisors and county
commissioners. Virtually all of us are shepherds, responsible to God for how we
lead those in our care."[1]
How do we care for those God has entrusted to us?
One day, the King will return and hold us accountable for
how we have led our lives and whether we cared for others. During these dark
days of December, many feel lonely and isolated. How can we reach out to them
and show them the Love of Christ through words and deeds? Let's not be overly
focused on our selfish needs but be on the lookout to meet others' needs. When
we willingly serve our Shepherd, King Jesus, when the Chief Shepherd returns,
we will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (I Peter 5:4).
