Yahweh Appointed Various Judges To Shepherd His People Israel
2 Samuel 7:1-17 reads,
7:1
It happened, when the king lived in his house, and Yahweh had given him rest from all his enemies round about, 7:2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains. 7:3Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for Yahweh is with you.7:4
It happened the same night, that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying, 7:5Go and tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in? 7:6for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tent. 7:7In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 7:8Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel; 7:9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 7:10I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, 7:11and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house. 7:12When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 7:13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 7:14I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; 7:15but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 7:16Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever. 7:17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.At various times in the past Yahweh appointed a particular tribe of Israel to be shepherd over the entire family of Israel - his people. Those Yahweh appointed over his people were judges from various tribes among Israel.
It should be stressed that a shepherd of Yahweh's people should be one Yahweh has appointed over his people. The people belong to Yahweh and it is he who appoints who leads them according to his word.
The Shepherd Of Yahweh's People Is Their Master
1 Kings 22:1-23 reads,
22:1
They continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. 22:2It happened in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 22:3The king of Israel said to his servants, "You know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, and we are still, and don’t take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 22:4He said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses. 22:5Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh.22:6
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? They said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king. 22:7But Jehoshaphat said, Isn’t there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire of him? 22:8The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. Jehoshaphat said, "Don’t let the king say so." 22:9Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Get quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.22:10
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 22:11Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus says Yahweh, With these shall you push the Syrians, until they be consumed. 22:12All the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.22:13
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, See now, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth: please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak you good. 22:14Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that will I speak.22:15
When he was come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him, Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king. 22:16The king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh? 22:17He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace. 22:18The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? 22:19Micaiah said, Therefore hear you the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 22:20Yahweh said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? One said on this manner; and another said on that manner. 22:21There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, I will entice him. 22:22Yahweh said to him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ He said, ‘You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.’ 22:23Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.
Shepherds Of Yahweh's People Should Consult Yahweh In The Manner They Lead Them
It is important that shepherds of Yahweh's people consult Yahweh before undertaking actions that involve leading Yahweh's people in ways out of the ordinary course. They should make a point of consulting only those who truly bear Yahweh's word, and not just those who profess to bear Yahweh's word but do not, in truth, do so. And once they receive Yahweh's word they should act upon it, and not ignore it. For what is the point of seeking Yahweh's word only to reject it? Wouldn't it have been better not to have sought his word in the first place, than to seek and then rebel against his word?
Sheep Without A Shepherd Are Scattered
Ahab clearly understood Micaiah's message to him, that he would die in the battle! For where Israel was to cease having a shepherd and master, and he was at that time Israel's shepherd and master, the only conclusion was that he was to die! And once the shepherd is struck the sheep scatter, for they have no one to lead, and each sheep goes its own way! It is therefore imperative, for the good welfare of the sheep, that they always have a shepherd who leads them according to Yahweh's word.
Psalm 23 reads,
A Psalm by David.
23:1
Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.23:2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.
23:3
He restores my soul.He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You have anointed my head with oil.
My cup runs over.
23:6
Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life,These are the actions of a true shepherd - Yahweh himself! Provide the flock with all that they need - food, water, rest, energy, guidance in righteousness, protection from evil, comfort, anointing, goodness, lovingkindness, dwelling in Yahweh's house forever!
Yahweh Bears Up His Flock Forever
Psalm 28:6-9 reads,
28:6
Blessed be Yahweh,28:7
Yahweh is my strength and my shield.Therefore my heart greatly rejoices.
With my song I will thank him.
28:8
Yahweh is their strength.28:9
Save your people, and bless your inheritance.A good shepherd bears up his flock, ruling over them throughout the appointed period of his rule.
Death Shall Be The Shepherd Of The Foolish
Psalm 49:13-15 reads,
49:13
This is the destiny of those who are foolish,Selah.
49:14
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol.The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.
Their beauty shall decay in Sheol,
Far from their mansion.
49:15
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,Selah.
Death is master over those who are foolish and approve of foolish sayings! In other words, such people are subject to the power of death - a flock for Sheol. But those who are wise are delivered from the power of Sheol, from the power of death, and are received by Yahweh. In other words, the wise live - after having been received by Yahweh, while the foolish die, not being delivered from Sheol.
How Yahweh Shepherded Israel From Egypt
Psalm 78:52-55 reads,
78:52
But he led forth his own people like sheep,78:53
He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid,78:54
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary,78:55
He also drove out the nations before them,Yahweh, the good shepherd, leads his flock safely, guiding them in difficult terrain.
Yahweh Appointed David Shepherd Of His People Israel
Psalm 78:70-72 reads,
78:70
He also chose David his servant,78:71
From following the ewes that have their young he brought him78:72
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart,
A Plea To Yahweh, Shepherd Of Israel
Psalm 80 reads,
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Lilies of the Covenant." A Psalm by Asaph.
80:1
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,80:2
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might,80:3
Turn us again, God.80:4
Yahweh God of hosts,80:5
You have fed them with the bread of tears,80:6
You make us a source of contention to our neighbors.80:7
Turn us again, God of hosts.80:8
You brought a vine out of Egypt.80:9
You cleared the ground for it.80:10
The mountains were covered with its shadow.80:11
It sent out its branches to the sea,80:12
Why have you broken down its walls,80:13
The boar out of the wood ravages it.80:14
Turn again, we beg you, God of hosts.80:15
The stock which your right hand planted,80:16
It is burned with fire. It is cut down.80:17
Let your hand be on the man of your right hand,80:18
So we will not turn away from you.80:19
Turn us again, Yahweh God of hosts.Yahweh, the Shepherd of Israel, sits above the cherubim and shines forth. He has power and capacity to do good to Israel and also to punish Israel when Israel walks amiss! Yahweh prophesied that he would save Israel by "the man of his right hand", "the son of man" whom he made strong for himself - Yah'shuah the Messiah!
Yahweh Is Shepherd Of His People
Psalm 95:6-7 reads,
95:6
Oh come, let us worship and bow down.95:7
For he is our God.Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
Strayed Sheep Have Forgotten Yahweh's Commandments
Psalm 119:176 reads,
119:176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep.Strayed sheep are those that have forgotten Yahweh's commandments. Therefore those sheep that abide by Yahweh's commandments are part of the flock and haven't been scattered away. Also, the manner of seeking and bringing back strayed sheep is to give such sheep knowledge of Yahweh's commandments and help them abide by it.
Yahweh The Shepherd Appoints Shepherds Serving Under His Authority
Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 reads,
12:11
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12:12Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.12:13
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 12:14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.Yahweh is the One Shepherd of his people. He has several masters of his assemblies, or segments of his people. These masters are to speak wise words, those that originate from Yahweh himself!
The Arm Of Yahweh Will Gently Lead Israel In Future
Isaiah 40:9-11 reads,
40:9
You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain; you who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, don’t be afraid; say to the cities of Judah, Behold, your God! 40:10Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those who have their young.Yahweh's arm that rules for him is his Anointed One - Yah'shuah, who is also his Shepherd of his people. He is also called the Lord Yahweh!
Yahweh Appointed Cyrus Shepherd Over Peoples
Isaiah 44:24-28 reads,
44:24
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who stretches forth the heavens alone; who spreads abroad the earth (who is with me?); 44:25who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish; 44:26who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places of it; 44:27who says to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers; 44:28Who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.Cyrus king of Persia was indeed Yahweh's shepherd, who performed all of Yahweh's pleasure! It is therefore the case that Yahweh's shepherds are not confined to Israel, and his flock is not confined to Israel, being made up of all the righteous of all the nations of the whole world!
Isaiah 56:8-12 reads,
56:8
The Lord Yahweh, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, Yet will I gather others to him, besides his own who are gathered. 56:9All you animals of the field, come to devour, yes, all you animals in the forest. 56:10His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they can’t bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. 56:11Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds who can’t understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter. 56:12Come you, say they, I will get wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure.Shepherds are synonymous with watchmen, those who watch over Yahweh's people.
Yahweh here describes the traits of bad shepherds. These include blindness, lack of knowledge, muteness, slumbering, greed, lack of understanding, turning to their own way, turning to their own gain and living recklessly, as if there is no future day of reckoning! In contrast the traits of good shepherds should be: vision, possession of knowledge, trumpeting Yahweh's words, being awake, sharing one's goods with the needy, possessing understanding, remaining steadfast in Yahweh's way, pursuing Yahweh's gain and that for his people and living prudently, knowing that Yahweh judges us for our works.
It should also be noted that Yahweh calls bad shepherds "dogs"!
How Yahweh Shepherded Israel From Egypt And In The Wilderness
Isaiah 63:7-19 reads,
63:7
I will make mention of the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh, and the praises of Yahweh, according to all that Yahweh has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. 63:8For he said, Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely: so he was their Savior. 63:9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old.63:10
But they rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. 63:11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit in the midst of them? 63:12Who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 63:13Who led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble? 63:14As the cattle that go down into the valley, the Spirit of Yahweh caused them to rest; so did you lead your people, to make yourself a glorious name.63:15
Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory: where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me. 63:16For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us: you, Yahweh, are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is your name. 63:17O Yahweh, why do you make us to err from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance. 63:18Your holy people possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary. 63:19We are become as they over whom you never bear rule, as those who were not called by your name.Yahweh is the ultimate shepherd of his people. Under him he appoints shepherds of his people, to rule over his people according to his word.
The good shepherd shares in the afflictions of the flock. He redeems them out of those afflictions.
Shepherds After Yahweh's Heart Feed His People With Knowledge And Understanding
Jeremiah 3:14-25 reads,
3:14
Return, backsliding children, says Yahweh; for I am a husband to you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 3:15and I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 3:16It shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says Yahweh, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of Yahweh; neither shall it come to mind; neither shall they remember it; neither shall they miss it; neither shall it be made any more. 3:17At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Yahweh; and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of Yahweh, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart. 3:18In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I gave for an inheritance to your fathers. 3:19But I said, How I will put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of the nations! And I said, You shall call me My Father, and shall not turn away from following me. 3:20Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with me, house of Israel, says Yahweh. 3:21A voice is heard on the bare heights, the weeping and the petitions of the children of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten Yahweh their God. 3:22Return, you backsliding children, I will heal your backsliding. Behold, we are come to you; for you are Yahweh our God. 3:23Truly in vain is the help that is looked for from the hills, the tumult on the mountains: truly in Yahweh our God is the salvation of Israel. 3:24But the shameful thing has devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 3:25Let us lie down in our shame, and let our confusion cover us; for we have sinned against Yahweh our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day; and we have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God.Shepherds after Yahweh's own heart impart Yahweh's knowledge and understanding to Yahweh's flock, thereby facilitating Yahweh's flock departing from stubbornness of heart into faithfully following Yahweh.
The Bad Fruits Of Brutish Shepherding
Jeremiah 10:21 reads,
10:21
For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Yahweh: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.It is imperative that shepherds or rulers of Yahweh's people inquire of Yahweh and lead them according to Yahweh's word. But when they rule or lead Yahweh's people according to their own mind, rather than Yahweh's words, not only do they not prosper, their flocks are also scattered. It is therefore a great blessing simply to inquire of Yahweh and follow his word.
Yahweh's Flock, His People, Are Likened To His Vineyard
Jeremiah 12:10-13 reads,
12:10
Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 12:11They have made it a desolation; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart. 12:12Destroyers are come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace. 12:13They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.The effects of bad shepherding, that contrary to Yahweh's words, results in the destruction of the territory holding Yahweh's flock.
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