AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Saturday – October 29, 2022, Cheshvan 4, 5783
FROM THE PROPHETS CHAMBER – WEEK NINETY-ONE
HERDMEN
Greetings precious brothers and sisters in Christ and welcome back to From the Prophets Chamber. Today I will be talking about “Pastors” or “Herdmen”. Please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible by every means available to you increasing our reach with the good news, the Truth. Thank you for sharing, you are a blessing to us, but more importantly to the Kingdom of God. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text continuing to read out loud.
Jeremiah 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
The word translated as “pastors” in our text is a verb meaning to feed, to tend; to be a shepherd. It means in general to care for, to protect, to graze, to feed flocks and herds according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament. We can see that the application of this Hebrew word could be broader than the five-fold Ministry office of Pastor. However, reading this definition one would be hard pressed to miss the fact that God is talking about the one who primarily tends, looks after the needs of the sheep (herd). Now, let’s look at the first use (an important Bible study tool) of this word in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).
Genesis 4:1-2 (KJV)
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
In this text the word translated in Jeremiah as “pastors” is translated as “keeper”.
Genesis 13:5-8 (KJV)
5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
In this passage the word “herdmen” is the same Hebrew word translated as ‘pastor’ and as ‘keeper’. We can see that all three words convey at least in part that this person is a guard, a caretaker, a custodian, and a curator. As I study this the following verse is brought to my mind.
Hebrews 13:17 (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
As we think about ourselves and our pastors, do they see you, me, as a joy in the congregation or a grief? The Lord cannot flow through rebellious little sheep and they are not nourishing to the body at large fulfilling their vital call in the body. Think on the following passage with regard to Hebrews 13:17 and the phrase “unprofitable for you”. Focus on verse seven below.
1 Corinthians 12:6-8 (TLB)
6 There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his.
7 The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; someone else may be especially good at studying and teaching, and this is his gift from the same Spirit.
Moving forward, what about the word “heart” in our Jeremiah 3:15 text?
Jeremiah 3:15 (KJV)
15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Today’s study will end right here and I will pick up right here Lord willing next Saturday.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Receive the blessing in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (MSG)
24 GOD bless you and keep you,
25 GOD smile on you and gift you,
26 GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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