by costi at www.sxc.hu
I want you to consider two words used in the Old Testament for leader or ruler. The Hebrew word nagid is often translated ruler, prince, or leader. The Hebrew word melek is translated as king. Often these are used synomous for a leader or king. Nagid is sometimes used for a leader, ruler, or prince who does not have the position of a king. But there also seems to be a nuance in its usage as well. It is to this nuance I want to comment on, but first read these passages.
2 Samuel 7:7-8
“7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince* [nagid] over my people Israel.”
Earlier in 2 Samuel 5:2-3 the people spoke to David and said,
“In times past, when Saul was king [melek] over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince [nagid] over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king [melek] over Israel.”
One more reference I want to observe is 1 Chronicles 29:22
“And they made Solomon the son of David king [melek] the second time, and they anointed him as prince [nagid] for the LORD, and Zadok as priest.”
What is the point?
It is possible that nagid carried the meaning of a shepherd leader similar to the judges. A leader who was not in the position because of hereditary descent, but by divine appointment. Remember God did not want to give the people a king, but He consented. God even foretold how kings would be selfish and greedy (1 Samuel 8:10-18). Saul was an unsatisfactory king because he did not shepherd God’s people, but sought his own interests. When you study the kings the primary problem is their independence of God. They multiply wives, create wars, seek idols, and try to preserve their power. A shepherd leader acts under the authority of God, cares, protects, and feeds the flock. He does what is in the best interest of the flock of God.
This is the question of spiritual leadership–to be a king or a shepherd?
The world makes kings. Christ makes shepherds.
What about in the church? Elders are to be shepherds. They are to watch over the flock and serve the chief Shepherd. They are not to be domineering, greedy, and seeking their own glory (1 Peter 5:1-5). They are to be caring, loving, protecting, and feeding of the church to which God has appointed them as a leader (Acts 20:28-35).
Which type of a leader are you? Which image, a king or shepherd, is my leadership model more similar too? To those you lead at home, work, and in the church are you a “king” or “shepherd?”
