David the Shepherd King

David: The Shepherd King
One of my favorite characters in the Bible is David. He was a man of great accomplishments but also remembered for his failures. God looked upon David’s life and said he was a man who was after His heart. In spite of his failures and success David sought after the heart of God. Tonight I want to look at his life and how God formed him into the man he became. God chose David to be the king of Israel after Saul. God fashioned the heart of David and the character of David before he released him to be the king. As we look at his life we will understand how God works in our lives and prepares us for what he has planned. We will look at different stages in the life of David over the next weeks as we examine these epochs of his life:
David the shepherd, David the warrior, David the worshipper, David the leader, David the failure, David the builder.
Tonight we will focus our attention on David the shepherd. David was the youngest male in his family and if you know some of the facts of birth order, the youngest is often looked upon with great affection by the mother and father. Usually by this time in their lives the parents have learned a lot about raising children and have really mellowed and are not as strict and worried as they were with the first born. Often times the parents rely upon the older siblings to take care of the youngest one and that can be good or bad depending on how responsible and caring the siblings are. I know my youngest brother was very much a part of almost everything we did. We looked out for him and brought him with us almost everywhere we went. The youngest member of the family is often the most carefree perhaps because of the security they feel because they are cared for by so many people. The Child Development Institute notes these traits regarding the youngest of the family
• Behaves like only child. (self-centered, pampered, spoiled, center of attention, relies on service from others rather own efforts, feels incompetent because adults are more capable)
• Feels every one is bigger and more capable.
• Expects others to do things, make decisions, take responsibility.
• Feels smallest and weakest. May not be taken seriously.
• Becomes boss of family in getting service and own way.
• Develops feelings of inferiority or becomes "speeder" and overtakes older siblings.
• Remains "The Baby." Places others in service.
• If youngest of three, often allies with oldest child against middle child.
Dr. Kevin Leman states the following about last-borns:
Last-Borns
Positives: Last-borns are the world's cheerleaders. You have strong people skills and love to entertain and talk to others. You make friends easily and immediately make others feel at home. You're an extrovert, energized by the presence of other people and you're probably not afraid to take risks.

Negatives: Last-borns tend to get bored quickly. They have a strong fear of rejection and a short attention span. When the fun stops, they've had enough and want to check out. To some extent they're self-centered. They may harbor unrealistic expectations of finding a relationship that is always fun - and of course, such relationships simply do not last.
From The Birth Order Connection (Revell, September 2001)
As we look at David’s life many of these characteristics were true of him. David was not taken seriously especially when Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be king and David was completely overlooked by the family. David was strong in his people skills and as king he was loved by the people.
As the youngest of the family David was given the job of shepherding the family sheep. This was not a glamorous job for anyone and I am sure his brothers were very glad to one day give him the job so they could be a part of Saul’s army. What would you rather be a shepherd or a soldier? Given the choice most men would rather be a soldier. David’s training ground for becoming king was in the field caring for sheep. The lessons David learned about caring for sheep were going to be applied to the people David served and lead as their king. God taught David a lot about himself as well through the care of the sheep. David would later in his life write Psalm 23, one of the most well known and loved Psalms in the Bible.
As a shepherd David learned responsibility. His father entrusted him with the safety and well being of the sheep. Shepherds who were hired by the owner of the sheep had to account for all the sheep and if one was missing they had to pay for it or show proof that it had been killed by an animal by presenting its carcass to the owner. I don’t know how many sheep were in the flock of David’s father but I am sure it was a sizeable flock. David was given great responsibility but it came as a result of the preparation his father had given him to be able to do it. Parents have to prepare their children to take responsibility and often times the youngest of the family is not given much responsibility or they expect someone else to do it for them. Jesse must have used a different approach with David because as a young man he was given a lot of responsibility to care for the sheep. I am sure David went with his brothers at times to learn how to care for the sheep and the day came when he could be given the responsibility. As parents and leaders we all look forward to the day when we can entrust our children or people working with us with greater responsibilities. David had proven faithful to do the tasks given to him by his father and was now ready to take on this new responsibility. His faithfulness to do what was asked of him prepared him for greater responsibility that God would give him as the future king of Israel. As we like David show ourselves to be responsible to do small things or things that may not be very glamorous we prepare ourselves to be entrusted with greater responsibilities for the future. Never despise the trivial or maybe dirty work you are given because you never know where it will lead you if you prove faithful and responsible to do it well. Caring for sheep was a good training ground in learning how to be a leader. God chose Moses and David, two of the greatest leaders of Israel who spend years tending sheep. Sheep are unique animals that have special needs and characteristics. To be a good shepherd, one has to know what to expect from sheep, how they behave so one can properly care for them.
Sheep are not considered to be very intelligent. They do things that get them into trouble and then need to be rescued by the shepherd. Sheep left on their own easily wander off the pathway in search of greener pastures.
You have heard how the sheep in the Highlands of Scotland are rescued when they wander off and become stranded? The vegetation on those high places is pretty spare. And yet, down on maybe a little cliff down below on a ledge down about ten or twelve feet is a little ledge that is grassy. It hasn't been eaten because sheep don't go down there. And some of them will smell that lush grass and they will go down on that ledge, jumping ten, twelve feet, landing on all fours like a cat and they will eat that lush grass. Well now, there's no way they're going to get back up by themselves. Soon their bleating is heard as they try unsuccessfully to return to higher ground.
The shepherd does not rush right over to rescue them. He just lets that sheep stay down there on that ledge below. There's no way he can relieve it until all the grass is eaten and until the sheep begins to get hungry and thirsty. There's no water there. Finally the sheep gets so weak that he can't even stand up. At that point, when he's at the bottom of the barrel, the shepherd will come and will lower himself down over that ledge and rescue that sheep. And he knows that if he comes any sooner that stupid sheep, of which we are sheep, will jump over the ledge to its death. (Donald G. Gettys sermon 1999)
As a shepherd David learned the importance of leading the sheep to green pastures where they could eat good food and not get sick or be placed in danger. A good shepherd was always watching out for his sheep to make sure they did not wander off and eat something that could kill them.
Phillip Keller was a sheep rancher and in his book, “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm,” he says that sheep require more attention than any other livestock… They just can’t take care of themselves…

For example, unless their shepherd makes them move on, sheep will actually ruin a pasture… they’ll eat every blade of grass, until a fertile pasture is nothing but barren soil…
Sheep are near-sighted & very stubborn, but easily frightened… They have little means of defense… They’re timid, feeble creatures… Sheep have no homing instincts… a dog, horse, cat, or a bird can find its way home, but a lost sheep is a lost sheep…
Sheep are afraid of running water. If a sheep is beside clear running water and a pool of stagnant dirty water, the sheep will choose the still water even though it is filthy. The shepherd has to take great care that the sheep don’t eat or drink things that will harm them. They require constant care and attention.
Sheep are not very good at defending themselves. They do not have sharp teeth; they cannot roar like a lion just give a pathetic sounding bleating noise, they cannot run fast to escape and often when danger is present they stand by and watch. One afternoon a shepherd came upon two coyotes that had stealthfully crept right into the midst of the flock. There they had killed a lamb and were eating it. The other sheep just stood around watching them. They didn't know the danger and even if they did they have no way of defending themselves. Sometimes a sheep will use its head to butt against its opponent but for an opponent with sharp teeth or claws it is of little use.
In summary here are some of the characteristics of sheep:
They are not the brightest bulb in the room.
They are easily distracted and can wander off the path and cannot find their way back.
They don’t consider the consequences of their actions.
They are near sighted and stubborn.
They frighten easily and are timid.
They have no effective way to defend themselves.
They need someone to care for them constantly.
When God wanted to train up a leader, he chose a young man who was the shepherd of his father’s flock. God knew what it took to be a good shepherd and these same traits would be necessary to be the kind of king God wanted for his people who all too often act very much like the sheep David had to care for. Being a shepherd was a demanding task because of the needs of the sheep. David learned how to care for the sheep and I believe he used the knowledge and experience he gained to care for the people God entrusted him to lead as the king of Israel. The Scriptures make several references to the believers as sheep. Psalms 100:3 states “Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Jesus referred to his own people as sheep. 36 He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. John 9:36
Jesus said he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. Matthew 10:6
Jesus referred to his disciples as his sheep. John 10:14
Jesus saw himself as the Good shepherd. John 10:14
Peter reminded the church leaders to feed the flock. 1 Peter 5:2
Whether we like it or not, God has made the analogy of his people to sheep and has likened himself and those who are in positions of authority and care to a shepherd.
All of us are sheep and each of us needs a shepherd. God wants each one of us to be in the role of being a shepherd to the people He places under our care. As we look at the responsibilities of the shepherd we can better understand how we are to function as we shepherd the flock of God.
As the shepherd of the sheep David had to protect them, provide food that was nourishing, communicate with them and provide care for the injured sheep. .
The shepherds during the times of David had only a rod, a staff and a slingshot to defend the sheep. David was called upon several times to come to the aid of the sheep. He confronted both a lion and a bear and rescued the sheep from their jaws. That takes courage and commitment to do something like that. But a responsible shepherd protects his sheep because they cannot defend themselves. As shepherds of God’s people we need to always be on the lookout for the enemy of our soul, the devil who goes about as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour who is caught off guard. We need to be able to recognize when those under us are being attacked by the enemy physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We need to be assertive as David was and rescue them by rebuking the enemy, taking authority over him and speaking the truth to the person who is under attack. We cannot sit by and watch the enemy ravage a brother or sister, we must respond immediately before the damage is done. When we see someone falling in sin we need to come to their aid. They may not see things as you do but as one placed in charge of another you have to take action.
A good shepherd knows that the wolves will always attack the lambs. They will leave the older sheep alone if they can get at the lambs. The youngest are the most vulnerable and the ones the enemy will attack. A good shepherd will always take care of the young; he will carry them to safety if necessary. As king of Israel David would be called upon to care for the young and the old. As shepherds of God’s people we have to have a special place for children. I pity the person who has no heart for children, no concern or compassion for them or desire to be with them. In God’s eyes they are precious and what a tremendous privilege we have as believers to help shape their lives, protect them from evil influences, train them in God’s ways and encourage them in their faith. Children today are so vulnerable to attacks of the enemy. Many are killed before they are born, in the USA there have been 45 million murdered babies that never made it out of the mother’s womb alive. Those who are brought to birth are faced with a world that is so much more dangerous than when I grew up. The influences of evil grab the hearts of young children and if they are not reached with the gospel when they are young the statistics show that the older they get the less likely they are to give their lives to him. We must do all we can to reach the children while they are young. Once they come to Christ them must be given special care, they must be trained in the ways of God and have people serve as models and mentors to them.
The shepherd also had to protect the sheep at night. He would place his body at the gate or entrance to the pen. No one could get into the fold unless they came through the gate which he guarded with his life. This is the dedication that we need as shepherds of God’s people. Being vigilant to protect at all times and being willing to lay our lives on the line for each other.
The shepherd was responsible for providing the food for the sheep. His job was to lead the sheep to green pastures where there were no plants that could poison the flock. The sheep were not very discerning between good and bad food, green was green to them whether it was grass or a poisonous weed. The shepherd had to continually lead them to new areas to feed so they would not destroy the fields. He not only thought about their present needs but also the needs of the future. As shepherds of God’s people we have to take care of their spiritual needs and provide them with solid teaching that will make them strong in their faith. There are a host of preachers and teachers floating around the Body of Christ that appeal to itching ears and preach what people like to hear rather than the truth of God’s word. As a new believer I ran into the Moonies and Children of God while I was in Sweden. A lot of young people got caught up into these cults and it seemed that few people were making an attempt to rescue them from false doctrines. Today we have the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and other Christian cults that are reaching out to capture the youth. As shepherds of the young we are responsible to always provide spiritual food that will help them stand against the false teachings of the cults and sects of Christianity that do not line up with the Word of God. There are a lot of resources available to us that we can put into the hands and minds of believers we are caring for. Share these with them, encourage them to read or listen to good solid teaching, invite them to join you as you go to seminars and conferences that will bless them.
A shepherd has to communicate with his sheep so they will recognize his voice. Some shepherds had names for each of their sheep. They could distinguish them from the other sheep by the markings on their body, how they walked or any other feature that made them identifiable to the shepherd. The shepherd gave names to them and they would respond when their name was called. Knowing the voice of the shepherd helped guide the sheep and this was especially needed when danger was present and the sheep needed to go to the shepherd. David must have spent time talking or singing to the sheep so they could recognize his voice. Communication is a key to spiritual growth. We need to become very familiar with the people God has placed in our care. Too often we assume all is well because we think people will let us know when things are not going well. Open and honest communication on a regular basis is needed to foster healthy relationships and bring growth. The shepherd’s voice had both a calming effect and a warning effect. Both were needed to care for the sheep.
The shepherd was also responsible to cared for the wounds of the sheep. He inspected them at night when they were placed in the protective pen. If they had a cut or scratch, he placed oil on it to heal it and keep the flies from attacking it and infecting it. As shepherds of God’s people we need to be aware of the difficulties they are experiencing and be available to bring healing and comfort to them. All of us to a degree are the walking wounded. We face battles daily and at times we take a beating because of thoughtless words or actions of another person that inflict pain. We are often disappointed in people and we are also discouraged by our own failures and setbacks. We need a shepherd who has the right medicine to apply to our wounds and we need to be the shepherd who draws from our past experiences to be able to help those in need. Fixing wounds is not easy and at times it can be very painful but the results when it is done right will make it all worthwhile. At times we do not want to minister to their wounds out of fear, lack of knowledge of what to do.
A friend of mine was dying of cancer and I went to see him just before he died. He had a large cancerous growth on his back about the size of a football. When I was in his room I asked if there was anything I could do for him. He was not able to talk much as it was hard for him to breath but he asked me to apply lotion to his back as his skin was dry and itchy. I was happy to do it but I avoided touching the cancerous growth because I thought it would cause him pain. I rub the lotion on his back and he was aware that I was not getting his whole back covered so he asked me to apply the lotion to his whole back. It was an eerie feeling as I applied the lotion to the growth on his back. I had never seen a cancerous growth like this and I was afraid but after I touched it and saw that it did not bring him pain I quickly overcame my fear. Sometimes in life we are afraid to touch people at their deepest point of pain. We may want to go around it and avoid it but we have to be willing to address it so that we can truly bring comfort to the person.
David was a successful king of Israel and loved by the people. He cared for the people in the same fashion he cared for the sheep of his father’s flock. He learned responsibility as a youth and this carried over into his adult life as God entrusted him with greater responsibilities. David understood the uniqueness of the people God placed in his care. He understood the needs they had as well as the weaknesses they faced. He protected the people, he provided for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs, he communicated effectively with his people and he cared for those who were in need.
As shepherds of God’s people we need to likewise follow David’s example. Have you proven to be faithful with the responsibilities God has given you in being a shepherd to the people He has placed in your life? Are you protecting them, providing for their needs, communicating effectively with them on a regular basis and ministering to the wounds they have suffered?
It is a challenge for each of us to think about how we are shepherding the people God has placed in our care. If we truly were being the shepherds God wants us to be I know that the flock of God would be a lot healthier and would be functioning more like the Body of Believers that God intends. I pray tonight that each of us will endeavor to become Good Shepherds and truly make a difference in the lives of people we serve.