Willing Shepherds
Jesus Christ is our Shepherd. He watches over, guides, and protects us. As we follow Him, He sends us to help tend His flock.
“Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let him go in. “I was so sure you hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.” Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.” So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves. When the Philistines asked, The Philistines went up and camped in Judah, spreading out near Lehi. The people of Judah asked, “Why have you come to fight us?” “We have come to take Samson prisoner,” they answered, “to do to him as he did to us.” Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?” He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.” As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi. Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.”
Judges 15:1-20
The people of Israel were not meant to be ruled over by anyone but God. They were His holy people and He was there Holy God. The Philistines ruled over the people and God sent Samson to set them free. The story reads like something from manuscripts of fiction. Samson catches three hundred foxed then ties them up and lights their tails on fire to repay the Philistines who stole his wife and cheated him. There are often times where we do not understand how the events of our lives will work out for good. The Philistines retaliate and set up a showdown with Samson. Sometimes you simply need to use what you have and trust God to do the rest. Samson grabs a jawbone and feels the strength of the Spirit and in a moment to remember overcomes a thousand men.
You might wonder how this could apply to your life today. You are not likely to catch foxes, fight with a jawbone, or face an army of a thousand. But you will face battles and have times where you do not experience freedom in your heart. God wants to not only set you free but show you that all you need is the Spirit of God to overcome anything you face. Samson may be the superhero of the story, but his sole strength came from the Spirit at God at work in his life. The story is not about Samson. It is about a God who sets captives free and can do more within one willing heart than an army of a thousand people bent on evil. How do you think God wants to use you to help others?
“You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game. At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still. It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet— when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared. He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.”
Psalms 76:4, 6-12
Aseph sang a song of deliverance. He asked who can stand against you God. Aseph did not sing about deliverance during a time of peace. He raised a song at his point of need. He needed deliverance and knew there was only one thing to do. He knew his best bet was to seek the God who alone can deliver.
Should we not ask the question that Aseph asked? Who can stand against God? If God promises us a hope and future, can anything keep us from living the life He has for us? Can anything stand against God? People want to find meaning in their life and they want to do good. People want to have connection and community. What are the barriers that get in the way of living a life of meaning, connection, and wholeness?
The barriers we fear are false. Nothing is greater than God. Nothing can stand against Him. The enemy wants you to think you will not win the battle, but Aseph was right. Nothing can stand against God. How could knowing that God is Almighty shape the way you pray? How could it build up belief in what God can and will do in, through, and for you?
“Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you. Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life. Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
Proverbs 22:1-4, 8-9, 17-19, 22-25
What is the vision for your life? Do you want to have riches, honor, and life? What exactly is Solomon saying. The word for riches means provision and abundance. Even more than what you receive is the change in mindset that occurs when you live your life trusting God's provision and operate out of a place of abundance. When you have an abundance mindset, you are quick to be generous. Solomon says the generous will be blessed. The abundance mindset is confident that God is generous and knows you can never outgive God.
The word for honor means a life that has lasting impact. It is living a life that glorifies God by giving your all to God's purposes. This is living with outward focused eyes and seeing how you can help the poor and needy. This mindset believes that while you might not be able to help all the people in the world, you can make a difference in the life of someone you meet today.
The last word is life. How would you describe the good life? This word describes a life that is pleasing to God and ends with well done my faithful child. This is the life that Jesus called kingdom living. It is a life that not just survives, but thrives. It is the spirit led, flourishing life that is rooted in Christ and produces fruit that feeds others. You were made for this life. You were made to flourish. If you are not flourishing then remember the order of operations. First, we humble ourselves then we look at our lives with the lens of the fear of the Lord. We see that we are part of His Story. We have a part to play. What is your part?
These three words are promises that God has for those who walk in humility and fear Him. Solomon then shows how to live out a life that is humble and reverent. It looks a lot like what Jesus did for us. Long before Jesus came, Solomon said let your life reflect a life that reflects God and we know there was no better reflection of the Father than the Son.
“The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians...They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?"
Habakkuk 1:1-3, 5-8, 11-13, 17
Jesus constantly said to the people who would listen that they should change the way they think. God says the same thing here. Habbakkuk asks God when and why, but God answers with what and who. Don't we often think like Habbakkuk? Is our focus not on God's timing and the cause rather on God's purposes and becoming His people?
Do we not ask God when will you answer my prayer, heal my hurt, and help me out? God wants to change our attention so that we focus on what He is doing and see how we can help fulfill His purposes by being His hands and feet. God says my child give me your heart and follow Me. He says commit your ways to me and I will make your path straight. God says stop thinking in the same old ways and see I am doing a new thing. He tells Habbakkuk you will be utterly amazed. He says the same thing to you and to me. He will do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine as we learn to humble our hearts and heed His call to follow.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not Lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith...And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
1 Peter 5:2-10
Think of how Peter's testimony is shaping his teaching. He told Jesus that even if he faced death that he would never leave Him. But, three crows of a rooster showed Peter's devotion had only been skin deep. Jesus wanted to capture Peter's soul so that he could become steadfast. He made Peter to be a rock, but first he had to rock his world.
Peter's thinking has changed from obedience to opportunity. Peter was the first to do what he thought was right. He was quick to act when Jesus called his name, but he had not developed a heart of humility. After Peter failed miserably, Jesus restored him and redirected his focus. He said Peter feed and tend to my flock. What message is Peter sharing with us here? The same truth that he found. The life of provision, purpose, and power is found by the willing heart that humbly responds to the love of Christ that desires the opportunity to love others.
God is not calling us to reluctant obedience. He has no interest in stealing your joy or making you serve. He wants to help you find the treasure that you have been looking for that will satisfy the deepest needs of your soul. He wants to show you that as you clothe yourself with humility, He will lift you up and give you the life that has the best that He offers. Peter warns you to not step in the traps of the devil like he did when he denied Jesus. He encourages us to live with eyes wide open so we can see what the enemy is up to in how he tempts us. Peter says resist him, stand firm, and you will see that God will turn your pain into purpose.
This is the truth of how God works. Samson had to have been in pain when his wife and her people betrayed him. It would have been easy for him to sulk and isolate. It had to have been embarrassing, but Samson chooses to let God use him as a weapon to bring free those in need. His pain turns into his purpose. The text says that Samson ruled for twenty years after serving God. Samson had a flock and so do you. You have lives you can impact and people who need you. If you have breath in your lungs, even if you have pain in your heart, God will use you to accomplish His perfect purposes of bring hope to the world as you humble yourself. Are you willing? Are you ready? If so, God is ready to put you to work.