Hello Beloved,

We have been studying the “epithets” for God. As a reminder, the Oxford English Dictionary defines an epithet as “an adjective or phrase expressing a characteristic quality or attribute of the person or thing mentioned.” Last month, we considered the epithet of God as “Light.” This month, we will consider the epithet of God as “Shepherd.”

The epithet of God as “Shepherd” is very well known and well loved by so many. Believers have uniformly found comfort and security in God as “the Shepherd.” The portrait of a shepherd often evokes thoughts of God’s guidance, protection, provision, care, and discipline. The Bible also uses this epithet for leaders like kings, pastors, and even priests, when describing the ideal servant-oriented role that those in authority should resemble.

As we observe some Biblical passages that describe God as Shepherd, consider Jacob’s final blessing of Joseph on his deathbed. Jacob reminded Joseph of God’s shepherding watch-care and provision even through the slander, attacks, and difficult circumstances his son experienced at the hands of others. Jacob stated, “The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and harassed him severely . . . yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),” Genesis 49:23-24 (ESV). At times the psalmist calls us to worship God by using the concept of “Shepherd” as a comforting picture, like when he writes, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand . . .” Psalm 95:6-7 (ESV). At other times, the psalmist uses the illustration of shepherd to remind us of our personal and intimate disposition before the Majestic God who created us. David writes, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” Psalm 23:1 (ESV). In Ezekiel, to contrast the failure and self-centeredness of Israel’s leaders, the prophet pictured the way God would care for His people by using the identity of God as “Shepherd.” He writes of the Lord,

“Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12  As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13  And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14  I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15  I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16  I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. Ezekiel 34:11-16 (ESV)

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not recall how Christ is described as the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), the great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20), and the good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11), in the New Testament. I leave you with this old poem about Our Faithful Shepherd:

There are some dry, barren lands we must cross
As God's beloved sheep;
There are dark valleys, difficult mountains,
Some waters rough and deep.
There are enemies to encounter,
Battles to be fought,
Storms to endure,
Lessons to be taught.
Through it all, our Shepherd is faithful,
As our eyes are fixed on Him:
He's the water of life in a dry thirsty land,
The light in the valley dim;
He undergirds as we climb steep mountains,
And carries us through waters deep;
He protects us from the angry wolves
Who seek to harm His sheep;
He fights our battles for us,
And shelters us in the storm,
Teaching us to trust Him
As He keeps us safe and warm.
Praise the Name of Jesus -
The Shepherd of our soul;
We're the people of His pasture -
And He's faithful to His fold.

Until next time, this is Pastor Daniel writing “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”