THE SHEPHERD-LEADER

Give ear, O SHEPHERD of ISRAEL, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! – Psalm 80:1 (NKJV)

The Almighty God is the SHEPHERD of Israel. Psalm 77:20 says of Him: “You LED Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” Psalm 78:52-53 buttresses this: “But He made His own people go forth like a sheep, and GUIDED them in the wilderness like a flock; and LED them on safely, so that they did not fear…” He is the GOD of the whole world, but the SHEPHERD of HIS PEOPLE! As stubborn as God’s people were in the wilderness, He never got weary of guiding and leading them. When the need arose, “He chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds…to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance” (Ps.78:70-71). God leads us – His people – by faith, in safety and away from fear.

Hear the psalmist: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!” (Ps.80:1). The Shepherd of Isreal led the young lad Joseph, from the Pit, through Potiphar’s house and the Prison, to become Prime Minister in Pharaoh’s Palace. He never leads astray or aground. He never leads into confusion or stagnation. He ultimately LEADS to LIFT His own. He leads us to lift us. No matter the odds on the way, He guides us to glorious heights. We are His flock: “Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” (Ps.100:3). Therefore, our Shepherd-Leader is eternally committed to lead us.

The New Testament speaks freely and often about the Lord Jesus Christ being our Leader. He is both our Saviour and Leader. No other person has ever influenced mankind as much as He has. He is our Pattern and Model for Life and Leadership: “To Him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out” (Jh.10:3). He calls and He leads. He is our faithful and wonderful Shepherd-Leader! In His earth-walk, He chose and multiplied His grace upon twelve men, to whom He was a wise Counsellor and exemplary Leader. He was always ready to help them by word and example. He has influenced many leaders to emulate His life and deeds.

As Shepherd-Leader, Christ was always ahead of the multitude but never lost touch with them. He always stood above the crowd, not in arrogance and pride, but in vision, wisdom, and purpose. He knew His destination, and His Life was dedicated to getting there. He enriched every life He touched by His character and grace. He has led many lost sheep back into the fold by His empathy, forbearance, and tenderness. Mark 9:2 says: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and LED them UP on a high mountain apart by themselves, and He was transfigured before them.” Our Shepherd-Leader wants to take us through mountain-top experiences in the fulfilment of life’s purposes and destiny. He knows us by name, and wants to lead each of us UP to the high mountains of transformation, excellence and glory. He will always ultimately LEAD US UP! He wants to shine forth His glory in and through our lives!