Shepherds? Leaders?

1 Chronicles 11:1-9New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

11 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “See, we are your bone and flesh. 2 For some time now, even while Saul was king, it was you who commanded the army of Israel. The Lord your God said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over my people Israel.” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

4 David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, now the city of David. 6 David had said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 David resided in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 He built the city all around, from the Millo in complete circuit; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

Another reading to follow Good Shepherd Sunday.  Here, how David, the king who was literally a shepherd as a youth, is now shepherd to his nation.  His people recognize God's call for him to be their shepherd; they see how God's hand moved in David even before he was King.

And out of this, the City of David - Jerusalem - is born.

Shepherds aren't exactly something we 21st century Western types have much interaction with.  We certainly don't tend to see our leaders as shepherds.  You have only to go on Facebook where I'm sure, if you are like me, you have a diverse group of politically minded friends, and see their thoughts on our leaders today. Whether you are talking about President Obama or John Boehner or Ted Cruz or Hillary Clinton, we aren't generally a people to say: "The Lord God said to you, you shall be a shepherd of my people."

For those of us who are Christians, much of this has to do with the fact that we claim someone else as our shepherd: Jesus Christ.  Claim, even though we admittedly have some ambivalence about thinking of ourselves as sheep.

But David's people had no such ambivalence.

What does it mean for you that Jesus Christ is our shepherd...our Good Shepherd? And does Jesus being our shepherd mean there aren't other shepherds in our lives?

And what might it mean if our leaders actually saw themselves as shepherds; as GOOD shepherds? If our care was paramount to them? 

Is there anyone you shepherd?

Jesus our Good Shepherd, teach us to put the needs of your people before all else.  Amen.