David Setting Forth Christ The Good Shepherd

We have already seen David as a type setting forth Christ in the work of His first coming, and in death and resurrection. We shall now consider the third and last point, that of his setting forth Christ as Shepherd.

David was taken from the sheepfolds into God's service (Ps. 78:70). We have seen him as a lad, with ruddy face and noble countenance, the youngest son of Jesse, the Behlehemite, a keeper of his father's sheep (I Sam. 16:11, 12). This is the man who typifies the Great Shepherd, first, in his faithfulness. David was a faithful shepherd. When Samuel came to anoint him as king, he had to ask Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" and Jesse said, "There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep." (I Sam. 16:11). He was not "an hireling" who fled when danger came, but he was willing to "lay down his life for his sheep," if need be, to save them. The lion and the bear coming to destroy the flock did not frighten him away, but he went forth to smite them and to deliver the flock (I Sam. 17:34-35). In the severest danger he was faithful.

Christ, too, is a faithful shepherd. God said, "I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them" (Ezek. 34:23). And Christ declared, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming', and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15). Christ was faithful unto death. "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5). When death rested upon us all, Christ came to save us from death. "Who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls." (I Pet. 2:24, 25 R.V.). As God's children may we ever praise Him for the faithful shepherd.

David, the shepherd, had a definite mission, that of feeding the sheep. "David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem" (I Sam. 17:15). His brethren might love war, but his was the humble lot of a shepherd.

Christ, the shepherd, likewise has a definite mission — He feeds and makes provision for His sheep. Hear Him saying, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted (hast turned again R.V.), strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32). Then Jesus after the testing and failure of Peter said to him, "Lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Feed my lambs." The second and third times Jesus said, "Feed my sheep" (John 21:1517). He has made provision through human instrumentality for the feeding of the flock. "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (I Pet. 5:2-4).

May we be faithful servants and hear the Holy Spirit say, "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58). Christ not only commanded us to feed the flock, but He also made provision so we can lean upon Him for strength and succor. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Cor. 10:13). He is the faithful shepherd who ever has His crook in hand to help those who are burdened and need strength, so each one can come to Him, and cast his burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain him: "He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." (Ps. 55: 22). "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" (Ps. 23:1). He is the One who sustains and bears up. As He said: "According to your faith be it unto you," (Matt. 9:29b) when the two blind men came, crying, "Have mercy on us" (Matt: 9:27-29), so He says to us through His Spirit, "Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you" (I Pet. 5:7). His provision is complete.

David, the shepherd, rescued a lamb from the mouth of a lion. "David said to 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" (I Sam. 17:34-36).

Christ the shepherd, also, rescues us daily from the power of our adversary, the devil, who as a "roaring lion (I Pet. 5:8) goeth about seeking whom he may devour." "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10), "who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us" (II Cor. 1:10). For "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." (II Pet. 2:9). "Thanks be to God, which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15:57). For "God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19).

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:27-28). "My peace I give unto you . . . . let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).