DAVID: THE HEART OF A SHEPHERD YOUNG ADULT CELLS FEB 2006

THE HEART OF A SHEPHERD Member’s Notes

I. Introduction Learning Outcomes:

To understand the heart of a
Before becoming king, David was a shepherd boy. Actually he was an good shepherd in caring for the
extraordinary shepherd based on the account of 1 Samuel 17. flock of God.
Perhaps, it was because of his deep care and concern for his sheep
that enabled him to write probably the most well-known Psalm, the
Shepherd Psalm. Objective:
At the end of this lesson, you will
be able to:
The Shepherd Psalm • Memorise Psalm 23.
Shepherds in ancient time were not in a profession that is reputable. • List at least 3 qualities in the
Besides being a lowly occupation, shepherds are not known to put role of a good shepherd as
the welfare of the sheep before their own welfare. But the image of demonstrated by David and
the shepherd, as painted by David, is a very positive one. taught by Jesus.
• Desire to be a good shepherd

Memorise Psalms 23:1 – 6 and disciple someone in the

future.
i. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
ii. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside
quiet waters,
iii. he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for
his name’s sake.
iv. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
v. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
vi. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Share with the cell what these verses meant to you.

But his bow remained steady, his
strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the
Mighty One of Jacob, because of
the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
Gen 49:24
II. The Heart Of A Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. The
good shepherd lays down his life
In the second of a 4 part series on the study of David, we look at the for the sheep.
shepherd heart of David – the good shepherd. Jn 10:11

This image of the loving shepherd caring for his flock is powerful 34 But David said to Saul, “Your
because it also reflects the relationship God has with us. This was servant has been keeping his
used in the Old Testament to show the nature of God’s relation with father’s sheep. When a lion or a
His people since the time of Jacob (Gen 49:24). In the New bear came and carried off a
Testament, Jesus revealed Himself to the Good Shepherd (John sheep from the flock, 35 I went
after it, struck it and rescued the
10:11).
sheep from its mouth. When it
turned on me, I seized it by its
A. David, The Good Shepherd hair, struck it and killed it. 36
Your servant has killed both the
1 Sam 17:34 – 37 is a remarkable account of David’s experience as lion and the bear; this
a shepherd. It is a good illustration of what is going on in the uncircumcised Philistine will be
like one of them, because he has
spiritual warfare between God and Satan for the lives of mankind.
defied the armies of the living
God. 37 The LORD who delivered
i. What do you think caused David to go after the lion and the me from the paw of the lion and
bear? the paw of the bear will deliver
me from the hand of this
Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the

ii. Where do you think he gets such courage? LORD be with you.”
1 Sam 17:34-37

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DAVID: THE HEART OF A SHEPHERD YOUNG ADULT CELLS FEB 2006

iii. On what basis do you think King Saul allow David to go and
fight Goliath?

iv. Do you think you would ever care for someone to the point of 1
“I tell you the truth, the man
endangering your own life? who does not enter the sheep
pen by the gate, but climbs in by
some other way, is a thief and a
robber. 2 The man who enters by
the gate is the shepherd of his
sheep.
B. Jesus, The Good Shepherd 3
The watchman opens the gate
for him, and the sheep listen to
In chapter 10 of the gospel of John, Jesus used the shepherd his voice. He calls his own sheep
illustration to teach his disciples about what God is doing to save the by name and leads them out. 4
When he has brought out all his
world from the clutch of Satan.
own, he goes on ahead of them,
and his sheep follow him because
Take a look at some of the verses from the John 10 passage to learn they know his voice. 5 But they
from the Good Shepherd Himself. Discuss what you understand will never follow a stranger; in
about these verses. fact, they will run away from him
because they do not recognize a
stranger’s voice.”
John 10:1-5 9
I am the gate; whoever enters
through me will be saved. He will
come in and go out, and find
pasture. 10 The thief comes only
John 10:9-10 to steal and kill and destroy; I
have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full. 11 “I
am the good shepherd. The good
John 10:11-13 shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep. 12 The hired hand is
not the shepherd who owns the
sheep. So when he sees the wolf
coming, he abandons the sheep
John 10:14–16 and runs away. Then the wolf
attacks the flock and scatters it.
13
The man runs away because he
is a hired hand and cares nothing
John 10:17- 18 for the sheep.

14
“I am the good shepherd; I
know my sheep and my sheep
know me-- 15 just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father
III. Conclusion —and I lay down my life for the
sheep. 16 I have other sheep that
are not of this sheep pen. I must
Sheep only need to follow and stay close to the shepherd. The bring them also. They too will
shepherd will lead and guide to protect the sheep from harm. listen to my voice, and there shall
be one flock and one shepherd.
How is your relation with the Good Shepherd? Are you staying close 17
The reason my Father loves me
to Him and following His instructions? is that I lay down my life—only to
take it up again. 18 No one takes
it from me, but I lay it down of
my own accord. I have authority
to lay it down and authority to
We are all called to shepherd one another (1 Pet 5:2-4). Do you take it up again. This command I
think you have some of the qualities of a good shepherd as received from my Father.”
discussed above? Are you willing to be a shepherd and disciple
someone in future?

What are some ways in which we can ensure holistic pastoral care is
given to everyone in the cell? Discuss.

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