The Shepherd King
/Salutations Truth followers!
I’ve been studying in Mark and an intriguing detail in Mark 6:7-13 caught my eye. This is the passage where Jesus empowers and commissions the 12 Apostles. Amongst Jesus’s commands, one phrase in particular stood out to me. Jesus tells the Apostles not to pack money or provisions, but He commands them to take a staff. This got me wondering...“Why a staff?”
Quickly my thinking turned to Moses and how The Lord personally equipped him to both communicate with Pharaoh and to lead Israel out of the Egypt. When Moses supposed that the people would not listen to or believe him, The Lord responded
“What is that in your hand?” [Moses] said, “A rod.” And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.”
This rod was a tool that Moses would have regularly used in his work as a herdsman. Moses rod was one tangible indication of his leadership over his flock. In Exodus 4:20 Moses’ staff is called “the rod of God” in part because God gave gifts to Moses via the rod: 1. To foster faith in the Israelites; 2. To show Israel that He had hand picked Moses to lead them; 3. To showcase His power before Pharaoh and; 4. To perform some of the plagues (Exodus 8:16). This list is connected to Moses’ legitimate authority, which flowed from God’s selection of him.
Speaking of God’s selection, consider the fallout from Korah’s rebellion. Korah and his fellow rebels spoke against Moses, Aaron and their leadership position. In Numbers 17 The Lord commanded Israel to bring and present 12 rods, one from a leader of each tribe, including a rod for Aaron of Levi’s tribe. You probably know the rest of the account. The day after the rods were collected and placed in The Tabernacle, Aaron’s rod produced buds and ripe almonds showing that The Lord had picked Levi, and particularly Aaron. The Lord did this to prove His chosen man and to help maintain order within the nation. Again, the rod was a sign of The Lord’s selection and the role of leader that came along with His choice.
Moses and Aaron weren’t kings, but they were both anointed by God to lead Israel. Aaron was physically anointed to serve as the high priest who led in worship and approached near to God (Exodus 40:12-15) and Moses was spiritually selected, or anointed to speak before the people and lead them as God’s prophet and civil head (Exodus 4:10-17). So, whether it is Jesus’ apostles or Moses, let’s begin to think of these rods as similar to a king’s scepter which is symbolic of his position and authority. And remember, the authority to lead is always granted by God.
But there’s more! David writes
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
So, although they may seem the same, we now we have 2 similar, yet distinct tools with distinct purposes — the rod that we’ve already seen and also the staff. David is writing this famous Psalm from a shepherd’s perspective and what he here calls a staff is for the flock’s protection. The staff is a weapon to be used against enemies! Consider what David carried into battle with Goliath.
“[David] took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.”
This chapter is permeated with references to David as a shepherd including David recounting how he killed a lion to defend his sheep. Psalm 23 is written from a sheep’s perspective...The Lord is my shepherd. In this line of thinking the shepherd’s staff defends and protects. The staff is comforting during the journey through the valley of the shadow of death!
This tool also has a sense of bringing correction or keeping one in the safe way. Psalm 23:3 speaks of the safe paths of righteousness. The shepherd can use his staff to keep sheep in the good way. Through its gentle touch he communicates “My dear flock, remain in the safe way” or he can wield the staff commanding “stand back or face injury or death.” Paul writes to the sinful church Corinth about the correctiveness of the rod.
“Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”
The protection and correction of the rod both comfort the sheep. The rod communicates ‘Sheep, I love you, will protect you and will do what I can to keep you in the good way.’
Isn’t it interesting that both Moses and David were shepherds? Both were also selected and authorized by God to lead His people! Besides leading, the role of these men was to protect and judge the flock of Israel. Godly leadership + sheep that follow and respond yield soul restoration and spiritual comfort!
Like Moses and David, Jesus is empowered by God to shepherd. Jesus isn’t just the Good Shepherd, He is also The Chief Shepherd and He is The King of Kings.
Today let’s respect and find rest in Jesus, The Shepherd King!
Jesus as Shepherd
Matthew 15:21-24
John 10:11
1 Peter 5:1-4
Jesus as King
Revelation 19:11-16
Psalm 2:1-12
1 Timothy 6:13-16