Preface
In our Youth Speaks section, we’ve been spending our time looking at Jonathan, the faithful prince and friend of David. Lord willing, this next summer, Youth Conference California (July 5th-11th) will be studying the life of David, and so in preparation for that week of in-depth study, we will take a break from the Jonathan series and have a few articles written by young brethren involved in the Youth Conference. Hopefully you will find these articles to be inspiring and thought provoking.
Jason Hensley (Simi Hills, CA)
A shepherd
A shepherd is a leader, a leader who cares for and protects their flock. When a sheep goes astray, the shepherd goes and looks for that sheep. It is similar in our ecclesias today. We are shepherds in our ecclesia, and when a member goes astray, we are to go out and help them, and try to bring them back. In the Psalms, we read about Yahweh, who is our shepherd: “He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psa 23:3). Moses tells us how that those who are shepherds, are to feed their cattle. “And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have” (Gen 26:32). Shepherds are also to make sure that their sheep have water. Later in the same book it states, “..and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and water the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place” (Gen 29:3). But, most important, a shepherd protects their sheep. Jeremiah clarifies to us that it is important to do so, and to make sure that our sheep are gathered together. “..He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock” (Jer 31:10). We must lead and be an example, like Christ and David were.
When we read about the life of David, we think of a man who was a king, a shepherd, and a servant of God. We even read a little about David in the book of Ezekiel. One day, Israel will be gathered in the last days, which we see in Ezek 37:24. “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statues, and do them.”
We read a little more about this a few chapters before: “Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd” (Ezek 34:22-23). It says:
- The flock will be saved
- There will be no more animals to prey upon the flock,
- The cattle will be judged.
- There will be one shepherd over these people who will feed them, like God’s servant David.
And we know, that one day, Christ will rule over the nations. What great similar language this is to Revelation, where it tells us that, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Rev 7:17). Literally, this means that he shall shepherd them, and lead them to eternal life. This is quite similar to Psalm 23.
Brother Harry Tennant in The Man David starts off his book by saying, “When we first meet David in the Scriptures, it is as a shepherd, keeping his father’s sheep. His days on the hillsides around Bethlehem taught him about God’s providence and care, and of the need for patient endurance. As he grew older, the shepherd skills were not forgotten. Under God’s providential hand they were used in David’s work as the shepherd-king over God’s people.” So, we see here that David was a shepherd in preparation for God’s ultimate plan. He used his skills as a shepherd to be king, and will one day use them again.
In 1st Samuel, we read about a giant named Goliath. At the beginning of chapter 17, we see the men of Israel standing together on one side of the valley of Elah, and the Philistines on the other side. And out of these Philistines was that giant of Gath. He was six cubits and a span tall (perhaps almost 9 feet). His helmet was of brass (or bronze), and he had a coat of mail. The weight of this coat was five thousand shekels of brass, or about 125 pounds. He also had brass on his shoulders and his legs. The spear’s head he had weighed six hundred shekels of iron, or around fifteen pounds. This giant was a symbol of the number of man. He represented sin, for brass often represents sin. Goliath asked to fight one of the Israelites, and offered to make a deal, saying if they won, they would be servants, but if the Philistines won, the Israelites would be their servants. Little did he know that a shepherd from Israel was destined to take up his challenge.
We read “And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem” (1 Sam 17:14-15). This is where we learn for the second time that David was a shepherd. In verse 20, he left the sheep with a keeper, so he could deliver supplies. In verse 33, Saul didn’t think that David could fight this giant, because he was still a young man. David’s reply was:
“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God” (1 Sam 17:34-36).
So Saul gave David his armor, with a helmet of brass, and a coat of mail. David told him that he could not go with this: not, probably, because it was too heavy, but because, as the ESV says “I have not tested them” (1 Sam 17:39). So, instead we see that he used his staff and five smooth stones1out of the brook, and put it into his shepherd’s bag. This is an echo of the Psalm “…thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psa 23:4): — so perhaps his staff reminded him of God’s protecting staff. What dedication this young servant had, preparing for the future to come! Truly, he had faith that God was on his side. David is an ultimate example unto us, and can help us be good servants and good leaders, helping us to be the shepherds that we need to be. And so, we read on, and David defeated Goliath.
Throughout David’s life, we see how great of an example he was in shepherding people, and how we, too, should do the same. David cared for his people, and wanted to save them. We see his care for his “sheep” in a later episode:
“And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, ‘Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.’ And after this prayer, Gad came to him saying, ‘Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite’ ” (2 Sam 24:17-18),
David’s shepherding days prepared him to be king, to see a group of people as his sheep and to care for them.
The name David is the Hebrew number 1732, which means “beloved.” In a way, this is David as a type of Christ. “And lo a voice from heaving, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17). When we look further, there are quite a few similarities between the Lord Jesus Christ and David, both of whom were shepherds. Listed are just some of them.
David Christ
A shepherd The “Good Shepherd” (John 10:14)
United all Israel (2 Sam 5:1) Will unite Israel (Ezek 37:21-22)
Restored true worship in Jerusalem Will Resume Worship
(2 Sam 6)
Subjected many nations (2 Sam 8:10) Will subject all nations (Isa 60:12)
Freed Jerusalem from the enemy (2 Sam Will do the same(Joel 3:16, Zec 14)
5:6-7)
One day, David will be raised, and Christ will bring judgment upon the earth. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jer 23:5). What a joy it will be to that shepherd of Israel when he sees his “son” sitting upon his throne and being a true shepherd to the people of God.
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