September 18, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“The idols speak deceitfully. Diviners see visions that lie and tell dreams that are false. They give comfort in vain. Therefore, the people wander like sheep being oppressed because they lack a shepherd.” (Zechariah 10.2)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Matthew remembers the ministry of Jesus following His visit to Nazareth in this way: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9.36) In Peter’s words of encouragement for Christ followers to be submissive to the ruling authorities [even those who were evil that by doing good, those who were submissive would be silencing those who were evil] we hear this: “For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Steward of your souls.” (1 Peter 2.25) We know that famous verse of scripture sung by David over his father’s flocks, “The Lord is my Shepherd, He oversees the wants and needs of my life so that I will lack for nothing.” (Psalm 23.1) Mighty ones of God, it is my sincere desire for you to see and claim the vital necessity of being shepherded in righteousness and shepherding others in righteousness. It is by the very concept of “shepherding” that we ought to be able to discern and evaluate those whom we can trust as leaders of our various communities. Even before Zechariah was approached by the “Word of the Lord,” the critical thinking about shepherding was already in place. It was either confirmed or denied. Those who confirmed it saw the great value of ministering to one another as a means of maintaining and prospering the community in which they lived. They did not see themselves as a flock of one. Rather, they saw themselves as one flock. Those who identified as a flock of one had no need for a shepherd because they shepherded themselves. In their lack, they then took on the attitude of others needing to serve them as if they were the shepherd. I hope you can understand the problem which that presents. How can sheep serve the shepherd? It is not their design to become servants of the shepherd. Yes, the shepherd can sell the sheep, their wool, their meat and from it make a profit by which to sustain themselves. But the sheep cannot serve the shepherd. The shepherd must serve the sheep.

Let’s reflect back quickly on the creation of God’s people. They were created in the image of God (Genesis 1.26). Not only were they, male and female, created in the image of God as God saw them but with the express purpose of shepherding (stewarding) creation from the ground up. Even now as I consider the story of creation in this way (Genesis, chapter 1), I am thrust into the corollary story of creation (Genesis, chapter 2) which focuses on the same concept but from a different angle. In the second story, God created man (not humanity) and then created a word in which the man would live and serve out his days. Hear the words of Jesus concerning the Sabbath (Mark 2.27), “Man was not made for the Sabbath but rather the Sabbath was made for man.” Why do I mention this? It is because there is a critical element which exists between “God creating His people” in Genesis 1.26 and “God creating man/Adam” in Genesis 2.7. What is that element? Hopefully there was no delay in answering that question as you understand the answer to be “Sabbath.” It is visible in the “telling” of the creation story as it is laid out in the Book of Moses concerning creation itself. It highlights the role and function of man/humanity as being the shepherds, stewards and (I dare say) the priests of creation. They were not to “rule” over it but to nurture it, maintain it and prosper it so that it maintains its identity as God created it intentionally and purposefully. In other words, our true identity comes from the understanding of Sabbath whether it is the seventh day (Genesis 2.1) of six days (Genesis 1.1-31) or the first day (Genesis 2.1) of the rest of the days which began with the creation of Adam (Genesis 2.7). In both editions, God created the Sabbath for the welfare of man/woman and community. They were not created for the Sabbath but the Sabbath for them.

And for me this relates to the question of shepherding/stewarding/ leading in worship in this way. As shepherds, the sheep were not created for the shepherd but the shepherd was created for the sheep. Put the two terms in that comparison/contrast mode of Sabbath/Shepherd. Their identity is best known in relation to God who created them both and for unique purposes. For the Shepherd, the Sabbath is a day of rest and reflection. David would view it this way, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” When would the shepherd not be in want (or need)? Would it not be most easily considered as on the day of rest, the Sabbath? On that day, no work was expected nor anticipated. The day of preparation preceded it. All that would be needed for the day of rest and reflection was at hand. No cooking. No cleaning. No labor. Only rest, reflection and satisfaction of being with God “in the Garden.” The soul’s sincerest desire is being with God alone. Even in Genesis 2, we see that the beginning of it (by design as the Master Author) is the Sabbath. Before God created all living things (plants, animals and man), the Sabbath existed. Isn’t this the way we believe it should be? Before we enter into our “work week,” we desire to be at rest and at peace. We call it the weekend with a focus on Saturday. But, it is also a week beginning with a focus on Sunday. Or is it? It is as if there is the week (Monday through Friday) and then the weekend (Saturday and Sunday). But because of the way we live Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday become a different kind of work week. We work at what pleases us. We become masters to our own desires, wants and needs which cannot be met by the work week. In truth, the work week finances our work weekend. We may actually outspend our work week finances with our work weekend expenditures: fiscally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We have turned our “rest” into “labor.” We are acting and reacting as if we are “sheep without a shepherd.”

Before long, the sheep will go astray. They lose sight of who they are, whose they are and what they are intended to do. Sheep need a shepherd but with an eye out for their own wants and desires the focus takes them far off the beaten path. What is that beaten path? It is the road which leads to the House of the Lord which is forever. The Sabbath rest is intended to re-orient the focus and intention on keeping “first things first.” But, in a world that is consumed with believing the world is intended to serve us and not us to serve the world (and I mean by “world” the people and human institution) no one serves anyone except themselves. This is unrighteousness. It is a sin. It is a tragedy committed to one’s own self against one’s own self. And the one who watches it all play into a plan of chaos is Satan himself. Satan, the fallen Lucifer, refused his own best purpose and intention which was to lead creation in serving God in spirit and in truth where worship of God encompassed everything. What is the ultimate end of such identity? Zechariah knew it as “exile.” I wander if we know it that way as well? If we don’t, we should. If we do, then we should be looking to God for the word of deliverance which He has promised to give us. It is a promise already given in Jesus of Nazareth, the Good Shepherd who knows the voice of His flock and whose voice is known by that flock. He walks with them. He talks with them. He calls them His own. In Him they find their rest and peace and daily bread and perfect comfort even in the midst of chaos, disaster and the shadows of death. (More tomorrow on this promise.)

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit brought us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit in order that others be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind so we would know we are Your people and You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.