The Good Shepherd - Part Two

By Joseph Daniel Quesada - www.abba-padre.org



Continuing the story of Saul and Mordecai, read in the Book of Esther, that: "Now in Shushan the palace a Jewish man whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, Benjamin" Esther 2 : 5 This Mordecai was a descendant of Saul and Esther's cousin. Thanks to the work done Mordecai, the people of Israel is delivered from the planned extermination by Haman. "And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or be humiliated in front of him, and was enraged. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him what the people of Mordecai and Haman sought to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai. " Esther 3:5-6 This Haman as the biblical account, is associated as a descendant of Agag, king of Amalek, people whom God commanded Saul to destroy. "After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha Agagite , and honored him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. " Esther 3:1 Note that the Bible tells us that Haman son of Hammedatha Agagite (emphasis mine) or is a descendant of Agag.

The consequences of disobedience of Saul, came to touch his town more than 500 years later. Thanks to Mordecai, although the story of Esther does not mention it, God used him to deliver his people from destruction descendant of Agag and Haman was destroyed. Like Joseph in Egypt, Mordecai became the second after the king Ahasuerus in the kingdom of Media and Persia.

But Saul made mistakes not only as pastor to the people of Israel. King David, also caused, by their attitude, death and destruction to his people. "Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and the princes of the people: Go, make, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and the number of them to I know.

And Joab said: The Lord make His people a hundred times, my lord, they are not all my lord's servants? What it seeks to my lord, to be sin for Israel?

But the king's word prevailed against Joab. He went, therefore, Joab, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem and gave the account number of the people to David. "I Chronicles 21:1-4

It is clear that it was Satan that prompted King David to do the census, but David did not hear the warnings of Joab. A God does not like the attitude of the king and the people punished for the sins of their ruler. "Also this displeased God, and smote Israel. Then David said to God, I have sinned greatly by doing this, please take away the iniquity your servant, for I have done very foolishly. And the Lord spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying, Go and tell David, and say, Thus saith the LORD: Three things I offer thee chooses them, that I do for you. Gad came to David, he said, Thus saith the Lord: Choose for you: either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated before your enemies with the sword of thine enemies, or three days the sword of the Lord, that is, the plague in the land, and the angel of the Lord do all the terms destruction of Israel. Look, then, what answer him that sent me. " I Chronicles 21:7-12

How hard it must have been for King David. His sin had brought serious consequences to all the people. Three years, three months or three days, any of the three options bring death to many in Israel. Of the three, David chooses the plague three days, three days were at least more favorable than three years or three months. The plague took the lives of seventy thousand men. David acknowledged his sin before God and cry for God to free the "sheep" of his people and calls for the punishment fall on him and his family. "And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders fell on their faces, covered with sackcloth. And David said to God: Do not I that commanded the people? I myself am the one who sinned and done evil indeed, but these sheep, what have they done? Lord my God, is now thy hand against me and against my father's house, and do not come a plague upon your people. " I Chronicles 21:16-17

The Bible tells us that David was a man whose heart was God's own heart (Acts 13:22) But we see that David was not perfect, and as spiritual leader of God's people, made mistakes. As pastor of Israel David refers to people as "sheep" (I Chronicles 21:17) and his sin brought down the wrath of God upon all the people.

Our sins, can have consequences not only ourselves, but also can affect our family, church and community. As pastors whom God has called a herd, community, church, family, etc.. we must take care of our flock and feed ourselves. Let the words of Ezekiel 34 will make us reflect and be careful in our approach.

God bless you!



José Daniel Quesada - www.abba-padre.org