Royal – Our Shepherd King by Pastor Abidan Shah

OUR SHEPHERD KING by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

Introduction: Any Jungle Book fans here? It had 2 kings: First was King Louie. He was the self-proclaimed king of all the monkeys whose greatest wish was to be a man and stroll right into town. He needed the secret to man’s red fire to do that. Did he ever get it? No. Second was Sher Khan. He was the king of the jungle. He feared man’s gun and man’s fire and wanted to kill Mowgli because he was afraid that once he grew up, he’d kill him. Neither cared about their subjects. Earthly kings are also either like King Louie, wanting something they can’t have, or like Sher Khan, always living in fear and hate. King Jesus is neither blindly ambitious nor is he a fearful murderer. Instead, he is the good shepherd who loves his sheep and is willing to lay down his life for them. He is Our Shepherd King.

Luke 2      8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And thiswill bethe sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Question: The angels came to the shepherds proclaiming the gospel. Have you heard the good news? The shepherds went immediately. Have you seen Jesus? Are you saved?

Pray: Holy Spirit – Open our eyes that we may see Jesus for who he is? Save the lost.

Context: This is our final message in our series called ROYAL. Many of you have shared with me how much you have loved this series. Repeatedly, the Bible refers to Jesus as our King, especially at his birth. One reason we miss this fact so easily is because we did not grow up in a monarchy. So far, we looked at Jesus as Our Creator King, Our Good King, Our Humble King, and Our Universal King. This morning, we will focus on Jesus as Our Shepherd King. There are 2 things we need to understand:

I. THE POSITIVE IMAGE OF THE SHEPHERD

8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Background:Typically, the reason given for the shepherds to be included in the Christmas narrative is either “They represented untrustworthy sinners that Jesus came to save” or “They represented poor common folk that Jesus came to lift up.” (See Sarah Harris’s dissertation) When we study ancient history carefully, we find that neither are totally true. In fact, the shepherd imagery was commonly used as a designation for gods and kings. Here are some examples from ancient cultures:

• Sumerian gods like Enlil were known as faithful shepherds. So also, Marduk, the Babylonian god, was known as a shepherd to his people.
• In Mesopotamia, Enmerkar, the King of Uruk, is called a shepherd (over 2000 BC). So also, Hammurabi of Babylon was called a shepherd.
• Similarly, in Egypt, the Pharaohs are usually depicted with a flail and a shepherd’s crook.
• Also, in Greece, we again find the shepherd metaphor in the Iliad and the Odyssey.

When we come to the Bible, the Old Testament, this is especially prominent. God is repeatedly described as a shepherd to his people Israel:

• In Genesis 49:24, listen to how Jacob blesses Joseph – “. . . the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the MightyGodof Jacob (From there isthe Shepherd, the Stone of Israel).”
• In Exodus 15:13, Moses describes God as a shepherd setting his people free from Egypt – “You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guidedthemin Your strength to Your holy habitation.”
• In Isaiah 40:11, listen to Isaiah’s prophecy about God’s future care of his people –“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carrythemin His bosom, andgently lead those who are with young.
• In Jeremiah 13:17, listen to Jeremiah’s sorrow over the sins of his people – “. . . My eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, Because the LORD’S flock has been taken captive.”
• InMicah 7:14, listen to Micah’s prayer to God – “Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage, who dwell solitarilyina woodland, in the midst of Carmel; Let them feedinBashan and Gilead, as in days of old.”
• Then the psalms are full of the shepherd imageries – Psalm 78:52“But He made His own people go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”Psalm 80:1“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock. . .”

By the way, God’s greatest leaders have also been shepherds: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David. Here’s the famous psalm of David – Psalm 23    1“The LORDismy shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You arewith me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Isn’t that beautiful!

The point is that contrary to what we have assumed, shepherds were not always looked upon as the worst and the lowest of society. Instead, many times, God was depicted as a shepherd who guided, provided, and protected his people.

Application:How do you see God? As a dictator to be feared, as a weak old man to be ignored, or as a shepherd who provides, protects, and patiently guides his people? What a comfort!

II. THE PROPHECY OF THE SHEPHERD KING

Background:800 years before the coming of Jesus, the Southern Kingdom of Judah was facing an attack from all sides: from the South from Edom, from the West from Philistia, and from the North and the Northeast from the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Syria. Instead of turning to God, the king decided to reach out to the Assyrians who were to the north of Syria. A prophet by the name of Micah who lived about the same time as Isaiah warned the people in the Southern Kingdom that it was foolish to look to the Assyrians for help because once they were done destroying Syria and the Northern Kingdom, they would destroy the Southern Kingdom as well. Wait for your help. It’s not going to come from some earthly king but from the Shepherd King. Of course, they didn’t listen. The Assyrians came and destroyed the north and sent them into exile, never to return. Next, they marched to the South and it was God’s grace that he intervened and the angel of the Lord went through the Assyrian camp and destroyed 185,000 of them in one night. Listen to Micah’s prophecy to wait for their Shepherd King who would come to rescue them –Micah 5    2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, thoughyou are little among the thousands of Judah, yetout of you shall come forth to me the One to be Ruler in Israel, (Meaning: A King is coming from the City of the great king David. He is the rightful King.) whose goings fortharefrom of old, from everlasting.”(A better translation is “whose origins are from of old.” In other words, “although he will be born yet he has no beginning.” He is no ordinary King.) 4And He shall stand and feedHis flockin the strength of the LORD, (Meaning: He will be a Shepherd King to his people unlike the unfaithful King Ahaz of Judah. He will be like his earthly ancestor David, who was the good shepherd king. Wait on Him!) In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God;And they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth;5And this Oneshall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land. . .” I know what you are thinking. Why would God send someone 800 years later to save them from a problem they are facing right now? The time to put a band aid on their wound was over, it was time to schedule a major surgery.

Why were the local shepherds invited? Listen again to verse 8“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Some people have claimed that they were temple shepherds. That may be but we don’t have any solid evidence for it. I believe that they were symbolic of the faithful, brave, and good shepherds who were simply under shepherds waiting on the Chief Shepherd to come and take over his flock.Luke tell us that they came with haste and found the baby Jesus. What was their response?17“Now when they had seenHim,they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18And all those who hearditmarveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. . . 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” They got the message of Christmas.

Application:Is Jesus your Shepherd King? He came to provide, protect, and patiently guide you. Are you following him? Are you saved?