Church Governments

Lesson 7

The Office Of Pastor

Part 2: Old Testament Pastors

We have proven that the most biblical form of government in the Kingdom of God is that of executive leadership. We have also seen that the executive, or leader, of any flock is biblically called a pastor. A pastor is the most widely accepted and the most visible leadership position in the Body of Christ. Yet, despite the seemingly commonality of pastors in the land and the overabundance of biblical references to pastors, the modern Church (including pastors themselves) has demonstrated a genuine lack of understanding for what a biblical pastor is and does. These four lessons are designed to give us a greater understanding of a pastor’s role and authority in leading God’s people.

The office and job of a pastor is not just limited to the New Testament. In fact, the New Testament says very little about the office and responsibilities of the pastor (only 18 verses directly refer to pastors or shepherds). To fully understand the role of the pastor, we must begin in the Old Testament and study our way forward.

It would appear that the New Testament says less than might be expected about the ever-important office of pastor because it (the pastoral office) is the oldest and most established leader given to God’s people. As with worship and tithing, the New Testament says very little about pastors because these subjects have already been thoroughly established in the Old Testament before the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. The apostles and early church would have seen little need to rehash established doctrine.

OLD TESTAMENT PASTORS

Below are examples of Old Testament pastors and 17 job descriptions we can learn from them:

• Moses—Moses was Israel’s first pastor.

  • • Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm . . .  – Isaiah 63:11-12a

    • But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.  – Psalm 78:52

    • And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hands of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.  – Exodus 2:19

This last verse is prophetic of Moses’ real call: to be a shepherd who delivered the people from the Egyptians and to draw out the living waters for the people and their livestock. He led Israel through the desert for 40 years, helped them fight a few battles, and gave them the Law. There are four things we can learn from Moses’ pastorate:

1. Pastors have the Holy Spirit upon them to be a pastor.

2. Pastors lead God’s people.

3. Pastors help deliver God’s people.

4. Pastors water and refresh God’s people.

• Joshua—Joshua was Israel’s second pastor.

  • • And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.  – Numbers 27:15-17

    • Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people saying . . .  – Joshua 1:9-10

Joshua was Israel’s second pastor. His basic role was the same as Moses’—go out before them, come in before them, and lead them. However, his pastorate faced different obstacles. Joshua was a militant pastor and led Israel into battle, city after city, until Israel had settled their Promised Land. There are three things we can learn from Joshua’s pastorate:

5. Pastors are set over the congregation.

6. Pastors go out before and come in before the people.

7. Pastors command the congregational officers.

• The Judges (Othniel to Samuel)—After the death of Joshua, God led His people through judges (to govern; lawgiver). This period lasted over 300 years. This season of pastors was defined by military leadership, teaching the Law, and judicial activities. Each judge was tasked with bringing Israel back to God.

  • • Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed (pastor, shepherd)my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?  – 1 Chronicles 17:6

    • And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel . . . and the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war . . . And the land had rest forty years . . .  – Judges 3:9a, 10a, 11a

Israel’s judges were also considered pastors: from Deborah, to Gideon, to Samson, to Samuel. They all governed and led God’s flock, guiding them back to the Great Shepherd. These shepherds brought deliverance from tyrannical oppression and rest to God’s people. They delivered the people from the mouth of their enemies and produced rest for the people. Their pastorate was a little different from Moses’ and Joshua’s. There are six things we can learn from the judges’ pastorates:

8. Pastors are commanded to feed God’s people.

9. Pastors aid in delivering God’s people from life’s entanglements.

10. Pastors adjudicate matters.

11. Pastors govern God’s people.

12. Pastors lead God’s people in battle and in the wars of life.

13. Pastors provide rest for God’s people.

• David (and the Kings)—David was Israel’s greatest king and pastor. He was a type of Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd.

  • • He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed (pastor, shepherd) Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed (pastor, shepherd) them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided (govern, lead) them by the skillfulness of his hands.  – Psalms 78:70-72

Remember that the definition for pastor or shepherd in the Hebrew includes to guard, to rule, and to govern. This is also part of the job description for a king. David is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is now both our King and our Chief Shepherd. These verses further reiterate that a pastor feeds and guides God’s people. These verses give us two qualities of a good pastor: 1) integrity of heart and 2) skillfulness of hands. We can learn from David that:

14. Pastors are first chosen by GOD, not by any person or committee.

15. Pastors should walk in the integrity of their heart.

16. Pastors are graced to pastor with skillfulness.

• Jeremiah—Jeremiah is known as the wailing prophet and the last prophet before Israel’s 70 years of captivity. But by his own testimony, he was a pastor, too.

  • • As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee . . .  – Jeremiah 17:16a

    • As for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd who follows you . . .  – Jeremiah 17:16a NKJV

Jeremiah teaches us that a pastor must follow the LORD, not people. Following the LORD permits a pastor to effectively lead the people. Jeremiah through his preaching endeavored to guide Israel back into the will of God. However, they would not listen to him. Had Jeremiah listened to the people in his day, he would have sinned against the LORD (Jeremiah 2:8). There is one critical thing we can learn from Jeremiah’s pastorate:

17. Pastors must always follow God. They can only lead God’s people as far as they are willing to follow God.

THE OLD TESTAMENT JOB DESCRIPTION

Below is a list of 17 job descriptions for an Old Testament pastor based on the previous verses and examples. To review, an Old Testament pastor:

1. Was anointed by the Holy Spirit to be a shepherd.

2. Led God’s people through difficult times.

3. Delivered God’s people from their enemies.

4. Refreshed God’s people with pure water.

5. Was set over the congregation.

6. Went out before and came in before God’s people.

7. Commanded the officers, not vice-versa.

8. Fed God’s people.

9. Delivered God’s people from life’s entanglements.

10. Judged God’s people and adjudicated internal matters.

11. Governed God’s people.

12. Led God’s people in battle.

13. Provided rest for God’s people.

14. Was chosen by God, not by man.

15. Were to walk with integrity of heart.

16. Were graced to pastor with skillfulness.

17. Were to follow God with all of their heart.

SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• None of these Old Testament pastors had committees voting on the direction of the congregation. They had advisors and elders, but the final decisions rested on the shoulders of the executive.

• These men acted as executives and governors, calling the shots. They were not just teachers or preachers.

• God spoke directly to these men concerning His will for the people and the congregation and the tasks He wanted accomplished.

• When these men listened to the people, they generally failed God and got into serious trouble, e.g., Moses (struck the rock twice), Joshua (sent a smaller battalion up against Ai), Saul (didn’t slaughter all the sheep or Amalekites), etc.

• If you thought you didn’t need a pastor in Moses’ day, you died a slave in Egypt.

• If you thought you didn’t need a pastor in Joshua’s day, you died having never received the Promised Land.

• If you thought you didn’t need a pastor during the times of the Judges, you stayed in slavery and oppression to your enemies.

• If you thought you didn’t need a pastor in David’s day, you failed to enjoy the greatest time of Israel’s history.

• If you thought you didn’t need a pastor in Jeremiah’s day, you went into Babylonian, Assyrian, or Egyptian captivity.

From the very beginning of Israel’s history, God ordained pastors to care for His people. This office of executive leadership and wisdom was thoroughly established in the Old Testament and continues into the Church Age. Our next lesson will look at New Testament pastors.