We are in a time when we remember that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Virgin Mary through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and later born in Bethlehem. In this, the presence as well as the worship of the shepherds played a significant role, which is why I would like to refer to the office of the shepherd in the Body of Christ.

 

The Hebrew word for shepherd is ‘râ‛âh’ (רָעָה) and means among other things ‘to tend a flock, that is, pasture it, to graze; generally to rule; by extension to associate with (as a friend): –, keep company with, devour, eat up, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, herdman’. (part excerpt from the Strong’s Concordance with the word key number H7462)

 

The shepherd is co-working with the gatekeeper representing the office of the prophet to bring the entrusted sheep into a spiritual dimension of the Father (see John 10:2-4).

 

2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

 

The green pasture is a representation to bring the people into the realm of the throne room of God in order to be and eat in His presence (see John 10:9 i.c.w. Psalm 23:1-2; Revelation 4:3; Exodus 24:9-11).

 

9 I (note: Jesus Christ) am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

 

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, …

 

3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald (note: greenish in color) encircled the throne.

 

9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli (note: sapphire => bluish in color), as bright blue as the sky.

11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

 

 

The office of the shepherd is linked to the seer anointing which is revealed by the Hebrew word for shepherd. Phonetically the Hebrew word for seer (cf. 1 Samuel 9:9.11.18-19; רָאָה – râ’âh) sounds similar as the Hebrew word for shepherd (רָעָה – ‘râ‛âh’).

 

The Hebrew word ‘râ’âh’ is the term for a seeing prophet who receives communication from God mostly through visions. The mantles of these seeing prophets are associated with strong herding and pastoral elements. The reason for this is because it is God’s desire to have His sheep in the presence of the throne room where the Lamb of God as it had been slain is located (cf. Revelation 5:6).

 

6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

 

The Lamb of God standing before the throne is the origin of the dimension of the sheep as well as the dimension of the triumph of Christ and His temporary life time on earth.

 

The two different Hebrew letters (note: Ajin, Aleph) in the middle of the Hebrew word ‘râ'âh’ as well as the whole word contain a revelatory principle of God's instruction.

The two Hebrew letters between the first and third letters of the word ‘râ'âh’ are an invitation to abide in the deep waters of the Father’s revelation in order to carry with Him with enlightened eyes His yoke, which is light and contains responsibility (cf. Matthew 11:29-30).

 

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

Resulting from this, true leadership in Christ Jesus becomes apparent so that His Spirit can move in freedom (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17).

 

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

 

 

The ministry mantle of the shepherd refers to the life of people. They serve from the horizontal bar of the cross of Christ and His triumph, since it is about the interpersonal relationship in Christ Jesus.

 

This is why the Shepherds see their main task in placing and caring for people in the house of God.

The ministry mantles of shepherds have their validity in their ability to care for saints and to help saints mature in order to become co-workers in their realm of duties.

 

Furthermore, the functions in the ministry mantle of the shepherd are designed to host and support people in the house of God. Shepherds provide an essential service in the personal progress of saints and in their individual development as followers of Christ.

 

Their focus is on serving people and do works in the house of God. Shepherds have a great gift of hospitality, which is linked to the unknown angelic presence operating with hospitality. This is based on the principle as revealed in the encounter of the angels at the birth of Christ towards the shepherds in the field and also in other occasions in the Word of God (cf. Hebrews 13:2 i.c.w. Luke 2:8-15).

 

2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

 

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 

Shepherds have a strong belief in unity in regard to individual believers, which is a great support to the follow up of people, who have received Christ. They have the gift of gathering believers to help them connect with others and find their community in the body of Christ.

 

Amen and Amen.

 

In His Wisdom,

 

Daniel Glimm