Being an elder in the Lord’s church is a daunting and stressful task. It comes with sleepless nights, sharp criticisms, and the burden of wayward sheep. While the concept of a suffering shepherd isn’t ideal–Heb. 13:17 encourages sheep to let elders serve with joy and not groaning–it is often the reality for shepherds.
Thus, modern shepherds should take courage from the OT concept of the shepherd. In fact, the major contribution that the OT makes to the NT leadership model is that of a suffering righteous shepherd. When you survey the shepherd leader concept throughout the OT you find the pattern of one who is suffering righteously for the cause of God.
- Abel, a keeper of sheep, is killed by his brother for offering an acceptable sacrifice (Gen. 4).
- Abraham is a righteous shepherd who is driven to Egypt because of a famine (Gen. 12:10). He will experience trials with Pharaoh (Gen. 13-15) and conflict with the Philistines (Gen. 20). He is called to leave his homeland and sojourn in tents, while also passing the ultimate test of faith in offering his son Isaac.
- The shepherd Jacob will face his trials. He deals with family conflict, loss of dear loved ones, and famine.
- Moses, a shepherd of his father-in-law’s flock, is called while in the wilderness (Ex. 3). He will suffer for decades leading a stiff-necked and rebellious people out of Egypt and wandering in the wilderness.
- David was a shepherd boy who protected his father’s flock from bears and lions. He courageously slew a Goliath, but gained the jealousy and ire of king Saul. It is in his Psalms that the righteous suffering shepherd is most seen and described as one who is surrounded by enemies (Psalm 22, 23, etc).
- Jesus, himself, summarizes the theme of suffering shepherd as going all through the OT when he assigns guilt for “all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah” upon the present generation (Mat. 23:34-35). In the ancient book order of the OT Abel was the first righteous sufferer and Zechariah was the last at the end of 2 Chronicles. Jesus simply is saying in our terminology from Genesis to Malachi!
- Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this typological pattern of the suffering righteous shepherd. As he was the good shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep (John 10:1-18). Peter would call us to follow in his steps (1 Pet 2:18-25).
So what is the point? The point is a very powerful one I believe. Elders do suffer today for their righteous actions and stances they take as leaders. But this should be no surprise! Every time a shepherd suffers today they continue to perpetuate the lineage of the righteous suffering Shepherd that God has always used and always called into His service. When you signed up to be an elder, you joined a heritage of righteous sufferers who imitate OT heroes, NT saints, and chiefly, our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Idea gained from Shepherding God’s Flock by Benjamin L. Merkle and Thomas R. Schreiner Eds. p. 25-31
