The Sheepdog Analogy...sermon post...Malachi 2.7-3.5

 

I picked this photo because it includes the sheep, the sheepdog and the shepherd.  I was listening to a podcast recently (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0Tq8FIuurI) and they used the analogy of a pastor as to a sheepdog rather than the usual title of an under shepherd.  Jesus is the Great Shepherd and we are the sheep and many times the pastor, elders, and overseers are seen as the under shepherds of the Great Shepherd.

The podcast brought in the idea of the pastor/elder/overseer as the sheepdog.  The sheepdog has one eye and ear on the sheep, the flock, and the other eye and ear on the shepherd, the Lord.  The sheepdog is running about the sheep, guiding and protecting them, and at the same time following the instructions of the shepherd and keeping the sheep moving with him or toward him.  The sheepdog also runs to the shepherd with a wagging tail because he loves the shepherd.  He is loyal to the shepherd.  He is petted by the shepherd and fed by him.

The shepherd and the sheepdog are truly a team as one gives the orders and direction and the other conveys those orders and gives motivation to move in relationship to his direction.  This is a wonderful picture of a pastor/elder/overseer.  The flock is God's and we run among them with His words.  We keep coming back to Him for instruction and encouragement.  He sends us out and we tend to those who are His.  Any analogy breaks down and this one does because we who are sheepdogs are also one of His sheep!  We all need sheepdogs in our lives who are also sheep and the cycle goes round and round.  

The sermon post takes us to burden (oracle) #4 from God to His people.

#1 - God has been denied love via their disobedience.

#2 - God has been despised via the priests.

#3 - A God created covenant has been disregarded.

#4 - God has been accused of not delivering justice.

The highlight of the sermon for me was the announcement of a messenger who was coming to prepare the way for God coming.  Malachi 3.1 is a great Advent verse.  What is so great about it is the Bible clearly states who His messenger is, John the Baptist.  Because we know who the messenger is then we can look at who he pointed to and know who the One is to come is!  It is John the Baptist who points to Jesus and says, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who has been ahead of me, for He existed before me'" (John 1.29b-30, LSB).

Malachi lays out the plan of God that He would come a first time as a purifier and whitener of souls which is another way to say, "to seek and save the lost."  There would be a time when He and His bride, the church, would be about the Great Commission to all nations with the message of He who purifies and whitens souls so that they may stand and endure the day of His second coming.  The second coming would be one of judgment and we are judged solely based on the One who came the first time, Jesus Christ.  Those who are in Christ will stand and endure and those who are not, God will judge against.  

At times I have asked those of you who read this blog to pray with me about someone dear who God has brought into my life.  Her name is Sonja and she is battling for her physical life in a hospital.  She is not battling for her spiritual life because she is in Christ.  Here is a picture of this dear lady who has touched so many lives with her loving acts of service.  Definitely a Dorcas of the Scriptures. 

Adam