Monthly Archives: January 2023

FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS-PART 1

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Introduction

 

In our last edition of Locusts and Honey we discussed true and false shepherds.  Generally where you  have false shepherds, you will also find false prophets and teachers.  The characteristics of the false shepherds are very similar to the characteristics of  false prophets and false shepherds.  In this edition we will review some instances of false prophets and teachers in the Bible along with the characteristics and fruits of  false prophets and teachers.

 

The Origin of False Prophecy and False Teaching

 

The origin of false prophecy and false teaching can be found at least as far back as the Creation Story; but it may have even existed prior to that time by the seduction of angelic authorities by Satan.  However, we can find false prophecy and false teaching in the Garden of Eden.  As we know from the New Testament, the purpose of Satan is to “kill, steal and destroy”.  One of the ways that this is carried out is by deception, and deception is what we find in the Garden of Eden.  For instance, the Serpent lied to Eve and said, “You will certainly not die….”  The Serpent deceived Eve (Gen. 3:4).  In Gen. 3:1, the Serpent is described as “crafty.”  Deception, lying and craftiness are the hallmarks of false teaching and false prophecy.  Satan uses false prophecy and false teaching as a way to entrap and harm mankind.

 

False prophecy and false teaching often results in false religion and heresy.  It is not always easy to detect.  Part of the reason why it is difficult to detect is that there is often an element of truth in it.  Sometimes it is an unhealthy mixture of truth and falsity.  I had a friend one time who said that “heresy was truth taken to an extreme.”  False prophecy and false teaching can sometimes manifest itself as truth taken to an extreme and at other times it can be a confusing mixture of truth and error.  One of the reasons why deception works is that there is often an element of truth in it.  An example of how deception works could be taken by a simple admonition such as “Obey your Shepherd.”  If one makes this the mantra of your spiritual life where this is the highest command, you may end up obeying false political leaders like Hitler or false spiritual leaders like Manson or Jim Jones.  In short, truth is balanced.  Do not rely entirely only on one Scripture but seek the whole counsel of God.  Satan uses deception to confuse and harm mankind.  The origin of deception through false prophecy and false teaching is not new.

 

Moses and False Prophecy

 

Deuteronomy 13: 1-5 warns against false prophets.  It says:

 

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces a sign or wonder,

and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says,

“Let us follow other gods (gods you have not known) and let us worship them,”

you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.

The Lord, your God, is testing you to find out whether you love him

with all your heart and with all your soul.  It is the Lord your God you

must follow, and him you must revere.  Keep his commands and obey him;

serve him and hold fast to him.  That prophet and dreamer must be put to death

for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt

and redeemed you from the land of slavery,  That prophet or dreamer tried to

turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow.  You must

purge the evil from among you.

 

In short, Satan can  use a false prophet who appears to tell the truth or presents a sign or a wonder as a means of subverting God’s people.  The goal of the false prophet (or false teacher) is to turn you away from God, and to cause you to move in rebellion to God.  The purpose is also to divert you away from God to false gods and false religions.

 

 

Two Examples of False Prophets in the Old Testament.

 

Although there are many examples of false prophecies and false prophets in the Old Testament, we shall look at only two of many.  They are Balaam who was outside of the tribe of Israel and Hananiah a prophet of Gibeon, who was a prophet during the time of Jeremiah and who was part of the nation of Israel.

 

Balaam

 

Balaam was a Midianite prophet during the time of Moses.  As Israel travelled to the Promised Land, the Moabite Nation which was an ally of the Midianites asked that the well-known Midianite prophet, Balaam, come and pronounce curses over the Israelites.    The story of how Balaam sought to curse Israel and other attempts to seduce Israel into following false gods is found primarily in Numbers 22-25.

 

The leader of the Moabites was Balak. The tribes of Moab and Midian allied themselves and sent for a well-known prophet to come and curse Israel.  The prophet was Balaam and he was at first reluctant to come.  Balak promised to reward Balaam for his efforts and after a couple of refusals Balaam agreed to come but told the Moabites that he could only say what God told him to say.  Most of us are familiar with the story of how the Angel of the Lord sought to block Balaam from cursing the Israelites.  On three occasions the donkey on which Balaam was riding to curse the Israelites avoided the Angel of the Lord and was beaten for his trouble.  Finally, God gave the donkey a voice and the donkey asked Balaam while he was being beaten by him.  God finally opened the eyes of Balaam to see the angel of the Lord.

 

On three occasions, Balaam tried to curse Israel but instead could only bless them to the consternation of Balak. Balaam finally was sent back home by Balak failing ever to curse Israel but instead only blessing them.

 

The story is interesting in a number of different ways.  Balaam is not your normal prophet.  He is called both a prophet and a diviner.  Apparently Balaam did not just prophesy God’s word but he also had the ability to curse which falls more into the category of witchcraft.  Balak says to Balaam, “For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”  (Nu. 22:6).

 

Interestingly, Balaam had some type of real communication with God.  Some examples are:

 

  • God spoke to Balaam and Balaam responded to God  (Nu. 22:8;12).
  • Balaam initially refused to curse the Israelites and sent the messengers of Balak back (Nu. 22:13).
  • Balaam says:  “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.”  (Nu. 22:18)
  • God gives Balaam a prophetic word for Balak (Nu. 23:16).

 

Ultimately Balaam is never able to curse the Israelites and only blesses them.  He is sent home by Balak. The Israelites not only defeat and kill most of the Moabites but the Midianites as well including Balaam. (Nu. 31:8).

 

Balaam is an interesting example of how there can be a mixture of what is true and what is false.  Balaam hears from God, but his desire to please the rulers and his desire for money cause him to ally himself with the enemies of God.  Ultimately despite hearing from God, he causes God to be angry with him and he later perishes with the Moabites and Midianites who were enemies of the people of God.

 

Another interesting aspect of the Balaam story is that the efforts to curse Israel are closely tied to money.  When the Midianites agree to have Balaam pronounce a curse on Israel, they are given a “divination fee.”  (Nu. 22:7).  Balak in Nu. 22:17 promises to reward Balaam “handsomely” if he will curse the Israelites.  In bitterness, Balak tells Balaam that God has kept Balaam from being rewarded “handsomely” at Nu. 24:11.

 

Closely associated with the attempt to use a prophet to curse Israel, the Moabites use another method to turn Israel from following God.  The events are recounted in Numbers 24 where Moabite and Midianite women begin to draw away the Israelites from following God by involving them in sexual practices associated with the false god Baal.  The use of sex was associated with false religion and with the intent of Satan to deceive Israel and draw them away from worshiping God.  We will see later on that adultery and sex are methods that Satan uses which are often closely associated directly or indirectly with false prophecy and false teaching.

 

Balaam and 1 Peter 2.

 

Most of what we need to know about false prophecy and false teaching is summarized in 1 Peter 2 where the Apostle Peter teaches us about false prophets and false teachers.  Although it is long, I am reproducing a portion of 1 Peter 2 below.

 

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping….

12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!

15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.

16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

 

 

Peter lumps together false prophets and false teachers in this chapter.  Some of their characteristics of false prophets and teachers include:

 

  • Heresies
  • Denying the Lord
  • Depraved conduct
  • Causing the Faith to be held in disrespect due to these actions
  • Greed
  • Fabricating false stories
  • Following the flesh
  • Despising spiritual authorities
  • Abuse and disrespect of angels of God
  • Adultery
  • Empty and boastful words
  • Promising freedom (while they are personally enslaved to the flesh)
  • Overcome by the world
  • Carousing
  • Appeal to the lustful desires of the flesh

 

Hananiah and Jeremiah

 

Balaam had been a prophet from outside of Israel.  Hananiah was a false prophet who was a prophet inside of Israel and who lived in the time of Jeremiah.   The name “Hananiah” means “Jerhovah is gracious.”   Hananiah is bold and forceful, but he is wrong and does not hear from God.

 

Jeremiah had been told by God to wear a wooden yoke on his neck to illustrate that God had given the nations, including Israel, to serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  (Jer. 27:1-6).  The false prophet Hananiah confronts Jeremiah in the Temple before the priests and states that the God of Israel has said that he (God) would break the yoke of Babylon and would within two years bring back the exiles which Nebuchadnezzar had taken to Babylon.  Jeremiah responds by saying that this was wonderful however people had better wait to see whether Hananiah’s words were true.  (Jer. 28:5-9).  Hananiah then rips

off Jeremiah’s yoke and smashes it proclaiming that in the same way God would smash the yoke of the King of Babylon.  (Jer. 28:10-11).

 

Afterwards, God spoke to Jeremiah and said that although Hananiah had smashed a yoke of wood, God would replace the wooden yoke with an iron yoke and that Nebuchadnezzar would rule the nations with an iron yoke.  Further Jeremiah had a word for the false prophet Hananiah which is repeated in Jer. 28:35-37:

 

Listen, Hananiah!  The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded

this nation to trust in lies.  Therefore this is what the Lord says, “I am

about to remove you from the face of this earth.  This very year you

are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.”

In the seventh month of the same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

 

Hananiah was a forceful individual.  He obviously had a strong charismatic personality.  He prophesied openly against what Jeremiah said; however Hananiah was a false prophet and was wrong.  Jeremiah was giving the words of God to Israel in the hope that the people of Israel would repent of their wicked ways.  Hananiah was telling them good things and comforting words rather than the words of God.  In reality Hananiah was preaching “rebellion against the Lord.”  Rebellion against God and His word is how Satan caused angels to fall in heaven and rebellion against the word of God is what Satan sowed in the Garden of Eden by causing Eve (and Adam) to eat of the fruit despite God’s express instructions not to taste of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  False prophets and false teachers lead mankind astray from God and are used to kill, steal and destroy.

 

Satan is happy to use nice and encouraging words if those words will prevent people from repenting and turning from being disobedient to God.  Today, some false prophets and teachers may use encouraging and uplifting words to dissuade people from feeling like they need to repent.  The Israelites no doubt thought that Jeremiah’s call for repentance was too negative and even defeatist.  On the other hand, Hananiah gave them good words.  He gave them hope; however it was a false hope and a hope which did not demand that they change from their evil ways.

 

In our next edition of Locust and Honey, we will be looking at what Jesus said about false prophets and teachers along with some examples of false teachers and prophets found in the New Testament period and later in history.

TRUE AND FALSE SHEPHERDS

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Introduction

 

The nature of Satan is to lie and deceive.  The use of counterfeits is a tool used by Evil to try to devalue and demean what is good, righteous and a blessing.  We see this technique utilized throughout history.  The goodness of God is mimicked by an alternative to that goodness.  Where you have God’s plan for mankind to worship the One True God, Satan gives man a plethora of false gods and religions that can be chosen by man as an alternative.

 

We have an opportunity to choose Christ; however, Satan will give us the opportunity to choose alternative christs (also known as antichrists).  Where there is a true prophet, there can also be a choice of a false prophet.  Some other places where we see alternatives are places like the New Jerusalem as contrasted to Babylon, the Bride of Christ as opposed to the Harlot and the Lamb in contrast to the Beast. 

 

The area that we will deal with in today’s teaching is the difference between good shepherds and false shepherds.

 

 

Jesus as Good Shepherd

 

In our last teaching we talked about Jesus as the good shepherd of the sheep.  In John 10, Jesus compares himself to both the gate to the sheep and himself as the good shepherd of the sheep.  Below are the first fifteen verses of John 10 where Jesus talks about this.  Keep in mind the old adage that the best way to protect yourself from counterfeits is to have an intimate knowledge of what is true.  By looking at Jesus very carefully and by studying the word of God we can better identify what is real and what is counterfeit. 

 

Here is John 10:1-15:

 

Very truly I tell you Pharisees anyone who does not enter the sheep

pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way is a thief and a robber.

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen

to his voice.  He calls the sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them,

and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

But they will not follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away

from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.

Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not

understand what he was telling them.

 

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you,

I am the gate for the sheep.  All who have come before me are thieves and robbers,

but the sheep have not listened to them.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

 

I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life

for the sheep.  The hired hand is not the shepherd and does

not own the sheep.  So when he sees the wolf coming,

he abandons the sheep and runs away.

Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.  The man

runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

 

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—I lay down my life

for the sheep.

 

 

What is Jesus saying in these passages?  First, keep in mind that Jesus is talking primarily to the Pharisees who were the religious establishment of his time.  Further, they were the leaders and “shepherds” of the people of God.  Jesus was also talking about the masses of people who were following him and who were saying things like “No one ever speaks like this man” (Jn. 7:46) or that he “teaches with authority” (Matt. 7:29).

 

Jesus’ comment to the Pharisees was that he (Jesus) was the true teacher who knew God.  Further, that God’s people were hearing him.  Their hearts recognized their Master’s voice.  The religious establishment did not own the flock; instead the flock of sheep (people of God) belonged to God.  When danger came whether it was physical or demonic, the religious establishment fled away.  They were not casting out demons or healing the sick.  The religious establishment (Pharisees and Sadducees) were in it for the pay.  They got the money.  They got the spiritual honor and respect.  But when danger from evil came, they ran away.  They were the “hirelings.”

 

Jesus’ affirmation and promise was that he was the “true shepherd.”  He would defend the sheep.  When evil came, he would lay down his life for the sheep.  He would die protecting them.  This was the promise of Christ in John 10 and it was this promise that he carried out.

 

 

Hearing the Sounds of Our Master’s Voice

 

 

Jesus said that his sheep would hear the sound of Jesus’ voice.  How do we do this?  I do not believe that it is as difficult as you might think.

 

First, we know what Jesus said.  We have the Bible.  Why not read the Bible and get use to hearing the words of Jesus.  Then if you hear a shepherd saying things that do not sound like Jesus, you will then easily know that the shepherd is speaking from his own spirit and flesh and not from the words of Jesus or through the Holy Spirit.

 

However, God in his grace and generosity gave us another means to discern as well.  Christ sent to us the Holy Spirit of God so that we might have an internal witness to the heart and mind of God.  In short, we are not left helpless.  We have the written word of God to lead us and we have the Spirit of God which is living and which was given to remind us what Christ said and did.  Further that Holy Spirit empowers us and leads us both individually and corporately just as the Pillar of Cloud and Fire did for the Israelites in the wilderness when they escaped Egypt.  We have escaped a morally polluted world through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Jesus, through his Holy Spirit, guides us and protects us in the wilderness of this world.

 

 

Delegated Authority as a Shepherd

 

In the Old Testament, God delegated his authority to oversee Israel to mankind.  We see God giving authority to political leaders to shepherd Israel.  Authority was given to the elders of Israel under Moses, to the Judges who ruled over Israel and to kings such as King Saul and King David.  God also delegated spiritual authority to his priests and his prophets.  In the old Testament we see both the King and High Priest as exemplifying God’s authority.  This is especially true in such prophetic books as Zechariah where we see Zerubbabel illustrating political authority and Joshua representing spiritual authority.  In the New Testament, the political authority and the spiritual authority are combined into Jesus Christ who combines the roles of both King and High Priest.  His authority as a High Priest derives from the authority of Melchizedek according to the Book of Hebrews as opposed to the Levitical line of Aaron the brother of Moses.  Both Priest and King (one person, Jesus Christ) is from the ruling tribe of Judah.

 

Jesus was appointed as shepherd over his people–  “From Bethlehem will come a ruler who will shepherd my people” (Matt 2:6 quoting Micah 5:2,4).  Jesus is the good shepherd and has God’s authority to shepherd God’s people.

 

That being said, Jesus delegated his authority as a shepherd to his disciples and followers.  After the resurrection of Jesus, he tells Peter in John 21:15-17, “to feed his sheep.”  Peter makes clear that this authority is passed on by Christ to the leaders and elders of the church.  1 Peter 5:1-4 says the following:

 

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and as a witness

of Christ’s sufferings who will also share in the glory to be revealed.

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care,

watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing,

as God wants you to be, not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;

not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown

of glory that will never fade away.

 

Part of God’s plan is that there be leaders in the church.  These “under-shepherds” are responsible to the “Chief Shepherd”.  If you are in a leadership position, you have responsibility to some degree for those who are under your care.  Peter warns those who are in positions of authority that they should not be pursuing dishonest gain and that you are to be an example to your “flock” and not lording it over them.  How many times have I seen religious leaders profiting off their flock and taking advantage of their flock for their psychic needs of being important and recognized.  I have seen them victimize their flocks both emotionally, physically and sexually.  God does not grant a license to those in spiritual authority to do this.  Those who fail to be responsible will be held accountable either in this life or the next.  God gave authority to Saul to shepherd his people but when Saul chose not to do what God wanted to do he was judged and his kingdom was given to David and Saul met God’s judgment on the battlefield.

 

Delegated authority from God is not a license to do wrong and it is not an indulgence which exempts those in authority from judgment from their actions.  To the contrary, there is every reason to believe that those who are in authority or those who teach may be under a higher standard of conduct than others.  (James 3:1).

 

Also keep in mind that the Chief Shepherd is the one who is in charge.  In the military, a general can easily override the commands of a sergeant.  Jesus is your commander and shepherd.  Thankfully, we as erring sheep, have returned to the flock and the person in charge of us is Jesus.  1 Peter 2:25 says, “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”  Peter was quick to acknowledge that the church does not belong to Peter or to the disciples but to Jesus himself.  That being said, be sure that you are listening to Jesus for your commands and not to the desires of your flesh or your mind.

 

 

How can I recognize a false shepherd?

 

The Bible gives us a pretty good method to recognize the difference between a true shepherd and a false shepherd.  We have previously mentioned one method which is to look at Christ as a model of the good shepherd.  Would Christ be acting in the same manner that a particular shepherd acts.  If not, then you may wonder whether a person acting as a shepherd is in reality a “false shepherd.”

 

Keep in mind coming to a conclusion is not always an easy thing.  False shepherds, false teachers and false prophets are not always easy to recognize.  In many instances, you have to look carefully at their actions.  You need to test the actions of the shepherd, teacher or prophet against the written word of God.  In addition, you have to look at the fruits of the shepherd’s life.  Are the fruits the fruits of the spirit including love, peace, joy, longsuffering or the like?  Alternatively, are the fruits the fruits of the flesh.  Is the person taking advantage of others in turns of abusing them from the pulpit, taking sexual advantage of the weak, and taking the assets of the flock while becoming wealthy themselves.  False shepherds often are charismatic and they seek to cut you off from contact with others and seek to control you all in God’s name and “for your own salvation and benefit.”

 

In Ezekiel 34, false shepherds are described.  Below is a chart showing the characteristics of a false shepherd under Ezekiel 34 and the characteristics of a “good shepherd” which are the opposite of those of a false shepherd.

 

 

FALSE SHEPHERD                                                                          TRUE SHEPHERD

 

  1. Feeds themselves from the sheep.                             Feeds the sheep.
  2. Does not strengthen the sick sheep.   Strengthens the sick sheep.
  3. Does not heal the diseased sheep.   Heals the diseased sheep.
  4. Does not bind up the broken sheep.   Binds up the broken sheep.
  5. Lets the sheep be scattered.   Brings back the scattered sheep.
  6. Does not seek the lost.   Seeks the lost sheep.
  7. Dominates the sheep.   Protects the sheep

 

 

Is your shepherd, seeking the lost, feeding the sheep regularly, leading them beside still waters, helping the sheep to heal, protecting the sheep and helping those sheep who have been hurt to heal?  If so, it is likely you are dealing with a true shepherd. 

 

On the other hand, if your shepherd is using you to enrich himself, lording his position over the sheep, beating up the sheep through his sermons and actions, not showing compassion to the lost, hurt, sick and broken, then it is possible that you may be sitting under a “false shepherd.”

 

Don’t be deceived.  False shepherds, false teachers and false prophets all look religious.  Like the Pharisees in the time of Jesus, they have no shortage of religiosity or legalism.  They pray often, fast often and hold to the many requirements of the Bible, but they are still Pharisees. 

 

Jesus kept telling his followers stories about religious people who were not doing what was in the heart of God.  He told about a Samaritan who gave help to a hurt man while Pharisees and priests crossed to the other side of the road.  Jesus told about the Pharisee and the tax collector who went up to the Temple to pray.  It was the Pharisee who reminded God that he kept the law and fasted twice per week.

 

In my own personal experience, I have run into a number of false shepherds.  Several of them had very visible ministries and were acclaimed by the masses.  At the same time, some of the people who were close to these individuals knew the ugly truth.  When they tried speaking up they were initially not believed.  Later, the truth came out.  My point is that upon a superficial glance false shepherds may initially appear to be “good shepherds” until such time that the seed that they have sewed grows and produces fruit which over time is recognized as rotten.  Ask God to help you to discern correctly and make good and wise choices. 

 

In a few cases, I have had a witness of the spirit that something was not right but no real fruit to back it up.  In those cases, I have withdrawn rather than say anything publicly or privately.  The reputation of people is important and so be cautious in what you say until you have a clear witness of the truth.

 

False Prophets and False Teachers

 

In our next edition of Locusts and Honey we will be discussing false prophets and false teachers and their characteristics.  For the present, let me say that it is fairly common to see a false Shepherd also engage in the actions of a false prophet or a false teacher.  There are clear characteristics of false prophets and false teachers and we will deal with these characteristics in a future edition of Locusts and Honey.

 

 

Short Conclusion

 

There are true shepherds and false shepherds.  They all appear to look alike at first glance, but you can spot the difference by looking carefully.  First take a look at Jesus.  Does the shepherd do what the Great Shepherd Jesus does or is the shepherd doing something else?  Is the shepherd doing what the Bible says to do or is the shepherd doing something else?  Is the shepherd bringing forth bad fruit?  Is the shepherd not being a good example?  Is the shepherd taking advantage of the flock?  Is the shepherd overly interest in money and power?  Does the shepherd strengthen the sheep or does the shepherd really not care if the sheep are diseased, lost, hurt and hungry?  Does the food the shepherd supplies strengthen the sheep or does it beat them down?  Does the shepherd beat the sheep verbally?  These are some of the questions which you must consider.  You must pray and evaluate your own situation.  Do not be afraid of making your own decisions after checking Scripture, praying and carefully observing the fruit of the shepherd to tell if the fruit is good and sound or whether it is rotten. 

DAVID AS SHEPHERD

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DAVID AS SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL

Locusts and Honey

1 Cor. 2:13

2023-Edition 2

 

 

Introduction

 

God could have chosen a people who raised crops to be his people.  Instead, God chose a people who were nomadic and who raised sheep and goats.  In the initial sacrifice made by Abel and Cain, God selected the sacrifice of Abel which were the first fruits of his flock over the sacrifice of Cain which was an offering of agricultural produce.  I believe that part of the reason for the selection was that in God’s plan, the remission of sins required “innocent blood” and the redemption of man would require the innocent blood of the Son of God who would also be the Son of Man.  Throughout the history of Israel, God utilized those who cared for sheep and goats as his leadership.  Abraham was one who raised livestock as opposed to being a farmer.  Likewise, Isaac, and Jacob were involved in the raising of sheep and goats.  When Moses was being trained to lead Israel, God saw that not only did he spend forty years in Pharaoh’s court but he also spent the next forty years of his life tending sheep in Midian learning the care of the helpless animals and the humility of those who work with them.  God’s training of the young David also involved the care of sheep.

 

David as Shepherd

 

Working in the sheep pens was not a mark of honor. Instead, it was arduous and unglamorous work.  In Jesse’s family of eight sons, it was relegated to the youngest, David.  In fact, when Samuel came to hold a feast and look for a new king, David did not even attend because he was in the fields tending the flock of his father.  When Samuel saw the oldest son, Eliab, he thought “Surely the Lord’s annointed stands here before the Lord.”  However God upbraided Samuel and reminded him that people look on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.”  (1 Sam. 16:6-7).  After Samuel worked his way through seven sons, he finally asks Jesse: “Are these all the sons you have?”  Jesse answered “There is still the youngest…He is tending the sheep.”

 

The three oldest sons of Jesse, were part of Saul’s army facing Goliath.  Jesse instructed David to take some gifts to the commander in charge of his sons.  When he got there, the eldest, Eliab, looked down his nose at David and said at 1 Sam. 17:28:

 

Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave

those few sheep in the wilderness?  I know how conceited

you are and how wicked your heart is;

you came down only to watch the battle.

 

Obviously, Eliab was incorrect, and it was little brother David who killed and defeated Goliath.

 

God Prepared David in the Sheep Pens

 

God used David’s time in the sheep pens to prepare David to lead God’s people Israel.  The menial and sometimes dangerous tasks of being a shepherd were used by God to prepare David for the challenges of leadership.  David’s battles against the bear and the lion were preparation for his battle against Goliath and his many battles against the Philistines.

 

Saul responded in doubt and unbelief to David desiring to fight Goliath by saying, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”  (Sam. 17:33).  David’s response at 1 Sam. 17:34-35 was as follows:

 

Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep.  When a lion or a bear

came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it,

struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. 

When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair,

struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed

both the lion and the bear.  This uncircumcised

Philistine will be like one of them because he has

defied the armies of the living God. 

The God who rescued me from the paw of the lion

and paw of the bear will rescue me from the hands of this Philistine.

 

Today, I hear many Christian leaders talking about paying their dues and convincing themselves that they are now “worthy” of serving as a head Pastor because they have served in lesser positions.  In fact the concept of working in menial tasks as a way of deserving to be entrusted with greater responsibilities has some legitimacy to it.  A person who has been faithful over little can later be entrusted with much.  That being said, the concept of “paying your dues” has been overused.  I have actually heard teenagers in both the secular and religious world talk about moving ahead because they have “paid their dues.”  We should not however forget that there is also the matter of “calling”.  The other brothers of Jesse may have well paid their dues both in the sheep pens and in the army, but it was not “paying their dues” which made the difference.  Instead it was the calling and anointing of God.  David was “called” to become a leader of Israel, whereas his brothers who may have served more time and appeared to be more ready to accept leadership were not.

 

Leadership of the Church of Christ is not a “right” nor is it because you “paid your dues.”  Instead, it is because you have been called by Christ to be a leader.

 

Moreover, one does not ascend into a leadership position and leave the lowly sheep pen behind.  Humility is not a virtue to be laid aside when one “ascends” into a leadership position.  Many Christian leaders seem to treat leadership as a position in the military.  They were at one time “privates” and now it is time for others “to be a private and serve” and learn from them.  In all of this there is a hidden pride.  Instead, the position of being a servant and a shepherd are inexorably woven together in the heart.  Jesus reminded his disciples of this at the Last Supper when he washed their feet.  Being a shepherd and being a servant are matters of the heart and they are not to be discarded just because of kingly robes.  Today, there are many leaders but few leaders who are also servants.  After all, they have “paid their dues” and that is a form of legalism cloaked in holy garb.

 

God as Shepherd

 

God defined his relationship over his people by comparing Himself as a shepherd watching over his sheep, Israel.  Jacob when he was blessing his twelve sons said of God:

 

…because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,

because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

because of your father’s God who helps you,

because of the Almighty who blesses you

 

Jacob, who had spent his life raising sheep and goats,  recognized God as being the primary shepherd over his people Israel.

 

In a number of passages by David and others God is pictured as the Great Shepherd.  The people of God are pictured as sheep.  For instance, it says in Isaiah 53:6 that “all we like sheep have gone astray, each unto his own way, but God has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.”  A similar verse is found in Ps. 119:176 which says, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep.”

 

 

David Saw God as being the Shepherd of Israel

 

It is clear that David in the Psalms saw God as being the Shepherd of Israel.

 

All of us are familiar with the 23rd Psalm in verses 1-3 where David writes:

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures. 

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 

Some other verses where David sees the people of God as being “sheep” are the following:

 

Ps. 78:52—“Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”

 

Ps. 79:13—“But we your people, the sheep of your pasture will give thanks to you forever.”

 

Ps. 100:3—“It is He who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

 

God is the primary shepherd over his people.  He entrusts his authority to leadership but is careful to hold those responsible who abuse this authority.

 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

 

Jesus was of the line of David.  We have studied previously how at his birth, angels appeared to shepherds in the fields.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the City of David and his father, Jesse.  Matt. 9:36 says that ”When he saw the crowds, he (Jesus) had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

 

In Matt. 18:10-13, Jesus told the story about the shepherd who left the ninety-nine on the mountains to seek the one that went astray.  (See also Luke 15:4-7).  Jesus is that compassionate shepherd.

 

In John 10:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

 

Jesus is the good shepherd.  He laid down his life for us.  When danger came from Satan he did not run away like “the hireling” but instead gave his life for the sheep.

 

David was a shepherd for the nation of Israel and Jesus, who came from the line of David, is the Great Shepherd who gave his life for the sheep that they might be delivered from the  lion of Satan.

 

 

 

 

Final Comments

 

God is the shepherd of Israel and that includes all of his people in both the Old Israel and the New Israel which also includes you and me.  God’s leaders are expected to act as shepherds of God’s people.  King David was not only a shepherd but he was a great leader of Israel and in that capacity God expected him to love and protect his people.  David was called by God into leadership and went from the sheep pens to shepherding the people of Israel.  David made many mistakes including stealing an “ewe lamb” which in effect was the stealing of beautiful Bathsheba and the killing of her husband, Uriah (2 Sam. 12:1-13).  God judged this terrible action.  Despite David’s great failings, God worked with him to become a great King of Israel and promised to build him an eternal house, which meant that God would take from his line and raise up an eternal King over Israel from the stock of Jesse and the line of David (2 Sam. 7:1-16).

 

 The time came when God fulfilled that promise and one came from the line of Jesse to become a King over the people of God and who would rule eternally.  That king is Jesus Christ, Immanuel (“God is with us”).  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  Instead of just shepherding Israel, he became the good shepherd over both the Jews and Gentiles, that is, the full house, people and kingdom of God.  The Good Shepherd laid down his life for the sheep.  Moreover, He ever lives to watch over us and has given his Holy Spirit to teach us, protect us and comfort us until we finally reach those green pastures and living waters that He has prepared for us.

THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT

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Today, we will be looking at the Day of Atonement and how it is a preview of the saving work of Christ.  The Jews today continue to celebrate the Day of Atonement.  It is called Yom Kippur and is the holiest day of the Jewish year.  However, the Day of Atonement as described in the Bible is very different from the present celebration of Yom Kippur because the Day of Atonement in the Bible involved a number of blood sacrifices, which are no longer made due to the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. and the inability of the High Priest to continue the sacrifices required to be made in the Temple in Jerusalem.

 

The Day of Atonement as Described in Leviticus-an Overview

 

In Leviticus 23:26-32, Moses sets forth an annual observation of the Day of Atonement which was to be a day of rest and denial.  It was to be a day of fasting; no lotions or ointments were to be used and sexual relations were prohibited as part of the observance.  The particulars of the sacrifices and observations are spelled out in detail in Leviticus 16.

 

Leviticus 16 instructed Aaron that he could only enter into the Holy of Holies one day per year.  He was to sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering.  The bull offering of blood was to be for the High Priest and his family.  He was then to take hot coals and place them in a censer along with two handfuls of incense and take them behind the curtain of the Holy of Holies so that the incense might prevent the High Priest from dying.  The High Priest then would spread the blood of the bull seven times on the Atonement Cover.

 

There were also two goats.  Their roles in the ceremony were determined by lot.  One would be sacrificed and one would be the “scapegoat” and bear the sins of the people out to the wilderness.  The goat for the sin offering for the people would be sacrificed and its blood would be taken by the High Priest into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled seven times on the Atonement Cover of the Ark of the Covenant just as he had done with the blood of the bull.

 

Then the High Priest would take some of the bull blood and goat blood and go to the brazen altar outside the Holy of Holies and put it seven times on the horns of the brazen altar.

 

In this manner, there had been a blood sacrifice for the High Priest and his family, blood had covered the Atonement Cover in the Holy of Holies and blood had covered the horns of the Brazen Altar in the Holy Place where normal sacrifices and offerings were made.

 

Next, the High Priest laid his hands on the scapegoat and confessed the sins and rebellion of the Nation and people of Israel.  The scapegoat was then taken into the wilderness bearing the sins of the people.

 

The High Priest next would bathe and change from his simple white garments which he wore on the Day of Atonement to his ornate High Priest robes.  He would then return to the Brazen Altar in the Holy Place and make a burnt offering of a ram for himself, his family and for the people of Israel.

 

Finally the remains of the bull and the goat sacrificed were taken outside of the camp and burned.

Below I discuss the meaning of these sacrifices and how they relate to our faith and the work of Jesus. 

 

The specifics of the sacrifices were taken seriously.  Aaron had lost two of his sons who had decided earlier to do sacrifices their own ways as opposed to God’s way (Lev. 10:1-3).  Therefore prohibitions such as not going into the Holy of Holies except by the High Priest and then only once a year were taken very seriously.

 

 

The High Priest and His Robes

 

Normally, the High Priest had ornate robes.  Among other things, the High Priests carried the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on his shoulders (with six tribes being inscribed upon each of the two onyx shoulder stones)  and also the names of the twelve tribes were inscribed upon twelve jewels which were imbedded on the Ephod worn by the High Priest.  However, for the Day of Atonement these vestments were removed during the initial part of the ceremony and the High Priest was dressed simply in white.  I believe that there are several spiritual reasons for this.  First, we all come to God for atonement of sins with a humble heart knowing that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Someone once wrote that the ground at the foot of the cross was level meaning that we all come with sin and we come for help based upon the grace of God and not on our own merits.  The High Priest, like all of us, needs the forgiveness of sins.  Second, when Christ came to be our advocate and priest, he laid aside the beautiful garments of divinity and put on the simple and humble garments of the flesh.  Later after the initial sacrifice was made, the High Priest put back on his normal High Priestly vestments including those items which represented that he was interceding for the Jewish people.  Once again, he had the names of Israel upon his shoulders and the names of the Twelve Tribes upon his Ephod making intercession for them.

 

Christ did the atoning work.  However, he did it simply.  After the sacrifice was made, Christ lived to intercede for mankind (Heb. 7:25).

 

 

The Sacrifice of the Bull

 

The bull was sacrificed and its blood covered the sins of the High Priest and his family.  Aaron had lost two sons who had tried to do sacrifices their ways and in their own efforts.  The blood of the bull was placed not only on the Atonement Cover but upon the brazen altar.  The Atonement Cover covered the Ark of the Covenant.  Inside the Ark was the law which condemned men and women.  It is interesting to me that the bull shows up in pagan religions.  In fact when Moses was on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments, Aaron was making at the request of the people a false god in the form of a bull.  Also the bull shows up as foreign gods such as Moloch.  Each of us encounters alternatives to God.  We can worship these alternatives or we can permit them to be sacrificed to God.  Aaron and Moses sacrificed the blood of bulls, lambs and goats to God.  In fact, the Book of Hebrews says that nothing was made holy without blood (Heb. 9:22).  Sacrificial blood is inexorably connected with salvation.  The covering of blood made things holy.  In addition blood covered the effects of sin which is death.

 

We sometimes use the word “propitiation.”  This is a long word which in effect means averting the wrath (or judgment) of God through a gift.  It is also a fancy word for atonement which is the making of peace with God.  The blood was placed on the Cover of the Ark.  This Cover was also known as the Atonement Seat which covers the penalty for sin.  Interestingly, the Atonement Cover is also called “the mercy seat” because it is there where we find the presence of God and it is there where we also find the mercy of God.  Each of us has a choice.  The place of the presence of God can bring wrath and judgment or it can bring mercy.  There is no half-way or middle ground.  The amazing thing is that God allows us to choose freely which we will embrace-judgment or mercy.  It seems almost unimaginable to me that people would not choose mercy over judgment. 

 

 

The Incense

 

Prior to going into the Holy of Holies, the High Priest would get some hot coals and two handfuls of incense and place it into a censer where the incense would rise to protect the High Priest (Lev. 16:12-13; Heb. 9:8).  Incense is often considered to represent the prayers of the people.  Incense also has another use.  In one sense it is like perfume or deodorant.  It covers the foul odor of our sins.  It not only obfuscates the smell of the sin but it also makes things more opaque so that they are not so clearly seen.  In one sense, prayer may well do the same thing.  At any rate, to the observant Jew, incense definitely reduced the likelihood of God’s immediate judgment upon sin.

 

As believers in Christ, we pray to God asking forgiveness for our own sins and for the sins of others.  God hears our prayers and shows mercy to others because of our prayers.  James 5:16 reminds us “that the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective.”

 

The Two Goats

 

One of the most fascinating offerings involved the use of two goats on the Day of Atonement.  Both goats were taken to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.  Lots were cast.  One goat was chosen by lot to be a sacrifice and the other goat was chosen to be a “scapegoat.”  The goat chosen to be the sacrifice was slaughtered and the High Priest placed its blood on the Atonement Cover in the Holy of Holies and on the Brazen Altar where regular sacrifices were made.  The High Priest would put his hands on the scapegoat and confess the sins of the people of Israel and then the goat would be taken into the wilderness and released.  The Hebrew is unclear regarding the scapegoat and some think that the Hebrew says that the scapegoat was to be a goat “for Ariel” which is an evil spirit. However, most Hebrews and scholars believe that the better translation is just that the goat is for “the wilderness” and it is this translation which was utilized in the translation of the Hebrew into Greek utilized by the Septuagint in the Second Century B.C.

 

In short, one goat dies and its blood is used to cover the demands of the law for death to those who sin.  The other goat takes the sin of the people which is confessed upon it and takes the sin out into the wilderness.  Obviously, it was impossible for one goat to do both functions so two goats were utilized.  However, in a theological sense, the Lamb of God fulfilled both roles.  Christ suffered and died and his blood covered the demands of the law for death to those who sin.  At the same time, Christ ever lives to intercede for us and to carry our sins.  Through the resurrection, Christ fulfilled both roles utilized by the two goats.  “He ever lives to intercede for us.” (Heb. 7:25).

 

Jewish lore says that the High Priest attached a red thread to the horns of the scapegoat.  Further, it was believed that once the sacrifice was approved by God, the thread would turn white.  Some believe that this is in effect the meaning of Isaiah 1:18 which says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”   The scapegoat would be taken a long way from the camp and pushed down into a ravine or down a steep mountain so that it could not return.  At any rate, the important fact is that the sins of the people were taken far away.

 

 

 

 

The Ram Burnt Offering

 

After the sins were confessed and “laid upon” the scapegoat, it was time for the burnt offering.  The High Priest bathed and changed his clothes into the vestments of the High Priest.  It was then time for the ram to be sacrificed as a burnt offering.  Included in the clothing of the High Priest was the vestments containing the names of the tribes of Israel both inscribed on the shoulders on onyx stones (Ex. 28:9-12; 39:6-7) and on the twelve jewels embedded in the ephod of the High Priest (Ex. 28:15-28).  The High Priest then offered the ram as the atonement offering both for himself, his household and for the people of God.  The sacrifice was of a ram just as a ram was used for the sacrifice in place of Isaac, the son of Abraham.  The ram (a male sheep) is an image of the blood sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

The important thing to remember is that God was preparing the Jews and all mankind for the event of Christ.  Instead of lambs, bulls and goats, God would use the blood of Jesus Christ, the very son of God, to cover the sins of the world and to provide a means for saving people from death and enabling them to return to God.  God pictured in the Day of Atonement the reconciliation of the world to God through the life and death of Jesus Christ.  We who were far away from God are brought close to God.  God has made a way for us where there was no way.  Further, in that sacrifice is portrayed not only the shedding of blood to cover our sins but the resurrection of the Son of God who like the scapegoat carries our sins out to the wilderness.  The Bible says so far has he removed our sins from us as far as the east from the west. (Ps. 103:12).