Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; I Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10
The Rev. Candice B. Frazer
The shepherd has served as an image of leadership in Scripture since the time of Moses. As you may remember, when Moses fled Egypt, he came upon a well in the land of Midian, where he met his future wife, Zipporah. Zipporah’s father invited Moses to stay with them, and Moses became the keeper of his father-in-law’s flock. One day, while herding that flock, Moses came upon a burning bush and encountered God—and the rest is history. Moses the shepherd became Moses the deliverer, leading the Israelites out of captivity and into the Promised Land. In many ways, Moses set the standard for all who would follow him and govern Israel.
The prophets and historians of Israel would go on to describe rulers as either good shepherds or bad shepherds. David was remembered as a good shepherd—in part because David, the first great king of Israel, had actually been a shepherd. He even used the tool of a shepherd’s protection—a sling—to bring down the giant Goliath and save the Israelites in battle.
Not every ruler of Israel was a good shepherd, some of them were far from good and even considered downright bad. Consider Ahab, Jezebel’s husband. He actively promoted the worship of Baal, a pagan god, stole land from his neighbors for his own personal gain, and sought to kill the prophet Elijah. He was a bad shepherd, caring more for himself than for the people entrusted to him.
Psalm 23, often attributed to King David, gives us perhaps the most beloved image of all: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The psalm goes on to define what that means. The Lord provides places of rest for the flock. He leads us beside waters that refresh rather than threaten. He guides us, protects us, and comforts us. Not only does he feed us—he prepares a rich table before us and treats us with honor. In God our shepherd, we are safe, provided for, and at home.
The prophet Ezekiel expands this image of God as shepherd. He promises that God will seek out the flock, even when we are scattered and storms surround us. He gathers the sheep, feeds them with good pasture, and makes them lie down in peace. He seeks the lost, brings back those who stray, binds up the injured, and strengthens the weak. Yet Ezekiel also reminds us that a good shepherd is concerned with justice. Those who trample the pasture after they have eaten and muddy the clear water after they have drunk, so that others cannot share, will be judged for what they have done. God the shepherd brings both comfort and accountability.
Jesus does the same. In Mark’s Gospel, we hear of Herod Antipas throwing a lavish banquet marked by excess. His courtiers eat and drink their fill while his daughter dances before them. At some point, prompted by Herodias, she asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Though Herod hesitates, he grants the request and has John killed.
The very next day, Jesus takes his disciples to a deserted place so they may rest. But the crowds follow them, and Jesus spends the day teaching because he has compassion on them. He sees them as “sheep without a shepherd.” That evening, he feeds them with the simple abundance of loaves and fishes. The contrast is striking: Herod, the bad shepherd who takes life for the sake of pride, and Jesus, the good shepherd who gives life out of compassion.
Scripture is remarkably clear about what makes a good shepherd.
– They tend to the needs of the people. When Israel was hungry in the wilderness, Moses interceded on their behalf, and God gave them manna from heaven.
– They practice servant leadership. They understand that leadership is about serving others, not being served. Jesus knelt and washed his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.
– They recognize that diversity is strength. Ezekiel says that God will seek the scattered flock among the nations. In John’s Gospel, Jesus declares that there are other sheep not yet known to us who will also be gathered, so that there may be “one flock, one shepherd.”
– They uphold justice that protects everyone, regardless of status, background, or belief. King David learned this the hard way. After his affair with Bathsheba and subsequent retributive justice by God, he worked hard to build up his kingdom by building up everyone therein. Many of the psalms associated with him speak to the cries of the downtrodden, diseased, and broken hearted offering hope and encouraging trust in the Lord.
– They know that the path to prosperity is peace and stability. They value rest. They prepare a feast in which even enemies may sit together, break bread, and begin the hard work of reconciliation.
Tending to the needs of the people, servant leadership, inclusion, justice, and peace—these are the qualities of a good shepherd as defined by Scripture. Thieves and bandits come to steal and kill and destroy. They are not good shepherds and care little for the sheep. Their path may seem successful for a time, but it ultimately leads to ruin for themselves and for those who place their trust in them.
The Good Shepherd not only leads us—he gathers us. He gathers us at this table, feeds us with holy food, restores us with mercy, and sends us back into the world renewed. Here we learn again the sound of his voice. Here we receive again the life that is truly life. And from here we go forth to follow him wherever he may lead. We come in and go out—through this gate, through Jesus—following in the way that he has shown us.
The world offers many gates, but not all of them lead to life. Some open into fear, some into hatred, some into emptiness. Jesus alone is the gate that opens into grace. There will always be thieves and bandits in every age—voices that exploit, divide, and destroy for their own gain. But the Good Shepherd leads another way: the way of justice, mercy, peace, and plenty enough for all. If we know his voice, then we must also reflect his voice in the world—caring for the vulnerable, welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, and refusing the lies of false shepherds. For Christ has come that all might have life, and have it abundantly.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Amen