THE SHEPHERD KING: YESHUA
Growing up in Nebraska, it is no surprise that I found myself trailing behind my Dad, Roger, in hundreds of corn fields in my lifetime. Dad is a retired agronomist and crop scientist who has dedicated his life to wanting to "feed the world." Although that was his passion, he sometimes found himself disheartened when farmers monetized their crops for ethanol or other means. So, at a crucial moment, our family bought a small acreage outside of the small town I'd grown up in, and he began a new hobby: sheep.
At first, it had been a joke, as the barn on our new property had a Suffolk sheep painted on the front of it. But after we moved in, I noticed him asking sheep farmers for advice; he began cleaning out the barn and moving debris from the barnyard. He walked the fenced-in areas around our property and started fixing holes. He began ordering haybales for the barn loft and cleaning out old feeding troughs. And one quiet Saturday, one Dorset ewe and two Suffolk ewes were dropped off in our barnyard. We named the Dorset sheep Patty and the Suffolk sheep Marisa and Baty, pulling from our time in Argentina. I watched as my father's demeanor changed. He had never had much compassion for farm animals, but he treasured these creatures. Marisa became one of his favorites early on, and he would speak Spanish to her, so much so that she wouldn't come if you used English. When Dad would walk through the pastures to fix fences or check on holes that could injure the sheep, sweet Marisa would follow him around.
Soon, the flock had grown, and not only did Marisa come when spoken to in Spanish, but the entire flock, lambs included. “Benga aqui, chicas!" was the statement you had to use when bringing a small treat like a bucket of corn or a new salt block. From all over the pasture, you'd hear the clip-cloves of hooves on rocks and excited "bleets” and “mlaaaahhsss," all in synchrony as they raced toward you. This memory of these corn-crazed sheep still brings a smile to my face.
One spring day, Marisa fell ill after giving birth. Dad tried everything to figure out what was wrong, even inviting a class of research students to our acreage to troubleshoot. When she passed, Dad was heartbroken. He buried her out by her "favorite tree" in the back pasture, crying softly with me as we pulled earth over where she lay. Watching my father care for Marisa and the flock reminded me of the tender way Jesus shepherds us. Just as my Dad knew every sheep’s name and needs, Jesus knows each of us intimately, combining a shepherd's gentle care with a king's majesty.
As believers, we often focus on Jesus being our Shepherd. We point to His compassion, gentleness, protection, and love. This is so important. But in that importance, we also need to see Him as King Yeshua, who also displays these things: majesty, royalty, rule, and power. However, what makes Jesus' kingship more powerful is that the aspect of the Shepherd is also a significant point of who Jesus is as King. He is, in fact, a Shepherd King. And our understanding of Him broadens when we view the Psalms through the lens of who Christ is.
The Psalms: A Poetic Symphony Pointing to the Coming King
I once believed that the Psalms, a collection of songs and poems, was not inspired. However, after thoroughly studying the central literary theme throughout the compilation, I have changed my tune. The academic design itself is genius, and only the hand of God could have laid out the Psalms in complete intentionality - all pointing to the coming Messianic King. Although several different groups and people wrote the Psalms, compiling them into five books, when viewed through the lens of their literary design and central themes, it becomes clear that the hand of God orchestrated this book with intentionality, weaving together the Torah's importance and the promise of the Messiah.
A Masterpiece of Divine Intentionality
The opening Psalms set the tone for the entire book. Psalm 1 emphasizes delight in the Torah, while Psalm 2 introduces the Messianic King. Together, they establish the key themes that ripple through all 150 chapters.
Prophecies of the Messiah
The Psalms contain striking prophecies about the Messiah, often linking directly to Jesus Christ.
Psalm 2: Even at first glance, when you, a 21st-century human, read the second Psalm, it's clear that this was written on the coming Messiah. For the ancient reader, however, they would have immediately thought of the passage in 2 Sam. 7:14, where God promised he would take the heir of David as a "son" and that the line of David would last forever before the LORD. Later, the author of Hebrews in chapter 1:5 points to both of these passages, pointing out that Jesus is the Messianic King spoken of.
Psalm 22: Known for Jesus’ cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" this psalm foretells the suffering and humiliation the Messiah would endure. Its vivid imagery—mockery, pierced hands, and divided garments—aligns with the crucifixion, pointing to a prophecy fulfilled only in Christ. But in this reminder of the crucifixion, we must remember in these moments, He was being inaugurated as King with the placing of the Crown of Thorns (banishing the curse from the Garden), the purple robe demonstrating His royalty, and identifying Him as the King of the Jews during His trial and crucifixion. Not to mention that He was anointed three times by women, recorded in the four Gospels (Matt. 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8). He also declared His kingship by riding on a donkey into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9), cleansed the temple (Isa. 56:7), healed others (Isa. 35:4-6), and accepted kingship praise from children (Matt. 21:15-16; Psalm 8). The vivid imagery of Psalm 22 brings us dead center to the foot of the cross, reminding us that this Shepherd King gave up His life for His sheep.
Psalm 72: In Psalm 72, this King seems to reign the entire world "to the ends of the earth" (vs. 8). This psalm points to a hopeful future, as the King will save all and deliver the poor and afflicted people. It is a King who will bring abundant food and provision (vs. 15-16), adding in rich garden imagery and a Kingdom that will last forever. The mention of a "great name" goes back to Genesis 11; this psalm pulls us back to the stories of David, Solomon, and even Abraham. In his lecture on Book 2 of Psalms, Tim Mackie stated, "God wants to bring blessing back to the nations who rejected Him." In this psalm, we see a vision of a King who provides justice and care for ALL – a role fulfilled perfectly in Jesus, who reigns with righteousness and compassion.
Psalm 110: This royal psalm reveals the Messiah as both King and Priest likened to Melchizedek. Reflecting on his priest-king role, David prophetically anticipated the perfect Priest-King in Jesus. (Check out the original story in Genesis 14:18-20!)
The Messiah in Every Chapter
The Psalms are filled to the brim with rich imagery and prophecy of the coming Messiah:
Jesus’ Lineage: From the line of King David’ to Jesus’ betrayal and death (Psalms 22, 31), the Psalms paint a detailed picture of the coming King. He will come for all people (18:49), will know His Father from childhood (22:9), and will be called God while still in the womb (22:10). The Messiah will be God (45:6-7b), the King of the Jews (2:6), Son of God (2:7), God's only Son (89:27).
His Role as Creator and King: Jesus is described as eternal and the Creator of all things (102:25-27a), Lord and King (110:1a), a priest after the order of Melchizedek (110:4), and the "Stone" rejected by the builders (118:22).
His Ministry and Rejection: The Psalms also highlight the Messiah’s future ministry and his betrayal and death.
Through the Psalms, a picture emerges of a Messiah who is not only King but is also intimately connected to His People. How could anyone wonder about Jesus's identity and doubt his Kingship and Messiah journey after reading the Psalms? Carson writes, "In the portrait of the King in the Psalms we have either the most blatant, unrealistic flattery of the successive kings of David's line, or else the expression of a great ideal, a mirror of truth held up before each king in turn, awaiting the One in whom all will be fulfilled." I tend to believe that it’s the latter.
A Call to Behold the Shepherd King
The Psalms challenge us to marvel at God's artistry and to behold His eternal plan to redeem creation through the Messiah. They invite us to see Jesus in every chapter, celebrating His Kingship, priesthood, and sacrificial love. But not only that, but to see Him as the Shepherd King that He is. And as Carson writes about Psalm 119, "This psalm is an inexhaustible treasury. It is virtually entirely a psalm of prayer, for throughout, it is addressed to the Lord and comes from a heart of true humanity in all its frailty and failure. However great our aspirations to obey, to keep the Lord's word in the forefront of our minds and lives, we remain to the end like a lost sheep needing the Shepherd's care."
Why can we trust the Shepherd King?
Lament is a massive part of the Psalms. Now, why would that be another ample theme behind Jesus' kingship? Because this Shepherd King cares for us. The psalms were written so that we would remember this beautiful characteristic of our King. As women, we often smooth over our hurts, pain, and desires in the interest of others we deem more important. Perhaps you've thought, "God doesn't care about my small potatoes." But when we look at the Psalms, we have to realize that this thought is theologically incorrect. The psalmists regularly went to the LORD with their "small potatoes." Although we may not look like King David, whose small potato/enemy chased him across the countryside, we have the same hurts and fears about death, sickness, and betrayal. These "small potatoes" are something that King Yeshua cares deeply about.
How do I follow the Shepherd King?
As we behold the intentionality and design in the Psalms, we may more fully behold the Creator who wove them together about the Shepherd King who came to die for us. We must find rest, trust, and hope in the kingship of Yeshua.
Let the Psalms remind you today:
God’s plan for redemption has always been intentional, poetic, and powerful.
The Shepherd cares for you.
The King protects you.
So, today, rest in knowing that the Shepherd King cares for you. He cares for your sadness, your fears, your anxiety, and your pain. Just as Marisa trusted my father’s care, we too can rest in the tender, robust care of our Shepherd King, who knows us by name and walks with us every step of the way.
