Two Shepherd Kings

Submitted by Lara Cook
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  John 10:11-15

There are so many parts of the story of David and Goliath that are symbolism for our lives in Christ.  Jesus is referred to many times in the Bible as our Good Shepherd, yet He is also King of Kings.  He chose to lay down His crown for a shepherd’s crook.  He came to earth, born in a stable, surrounded by dirt, hay, and animals.  Not the way a prince was usually born.  He modeled the role of a shepherd in his care for His flock.  A shepherd leads, guides, and protects his flock. A shepherd leads with strength to protect.  He searches for the lost sheep when they stray, because they do stray.  When the shepherd finds them, he gently guides them back to greener pastures and still waters.  He provides peace.   As our Good Shepherd, Jesus promises to lead, guide, and protect us in the presence of our enemies - not in the absence of them. Jesus is our very own personal shepherd.  He chose us and we belong to Him.  He is everything we need and in Him we will always be taken care of. Jesus as our shepherd provides the wisdom and strength we need as Goliaths come our way.  He goes out to meet our giants just like David did, and slays them.

David was also a shepherd king.  He was a shepherd when he was anointed king.  He was anointed and probably went right back out to the field.  When Samuel got to Jesse’s house to anoint a king, he didn’t expect that he would find him out in the field.  After all, that is not a very kingly thing to do.  But David continued to help his father with his sheep for many years before he steppedinto the role as King of Israel. As a shepherd, David saved his father’s sheep from the lions and bears with his bare hands.  Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”  But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  1 Samuel 17:33-35  

This is exactly how our Good Shepherd rescues us – straight out of the jaws of Satan and death.  We are the sheep – our Heavenly Father’s sheep and Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  He rescues us straight out of the jaws of Satan and eternal separation from God.  

Goliath represents our battles – fear, anxiety, illness, sin, depression, financial issues – whatever the battle is you are fighting, whatever comes at you and keeps you down.    David is a picture of Jesus and how He can come and slay any and all the giants we face in our lives.  We cannot do it but is ready to do it for us.  Giants are not what they seem and the kinds of obstacles we face in our life are not nearly as insurmountable and depressing and overwhelming as they appear to be at first. Look closely and you’ll see a different truth.  Giants can be slain.  Jesus, our Shepherd King, comes to our rescue.  He leads, guides, protects us, fights our battles, and slays our giants.  He reigns in Heaven, He reigns in our hearts, and He will reign over all one day.  The battle is already won.  

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands. 
1 Samuel 17:45