Shepherds After My Own Heart, Pastoral Traditions and Leadership in the Bible

Shepherds After My Own Heart, Pastoral Traditions and Leadership in the BibleScripture says, "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3: 15). Most of Israel's pastoral imagery is grounded in two traditions: Moses as God's under shepherd and David as shepherd king. These traditions, explains author Timothy S. Laniak, provided prototypes for leaders that followed, and formed the background for the ministry of Jesus, the good shepherd. The pastoral role was

Scripture says, "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15). Most of Israel's pastoral imagery is grounded in two traditions: Moses as God's under-shepherd and David as shepherd-king. These traditions, explains author Timothy S. Laniak, provided prototypes for leaders that followed, and formed the background for the ministry of Jesus, the good shepherd. The pastoral role was central to the ongoing life of local churches in the Christian movement, and today's pastors are still called to be shepherds after God's own heart, to lead his people, living on the margins of settled society, to their eternal home. In this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume, Laniak draws on a wide range of Old and New Testament texts to develop the biblical theology of "shepherd" imagery, and concludes with some principles and implications for contemporary pastoral ministry. A wonderful resource for pastors, teachers and seminary students, as well as readers interested in the study of biblical imagery.

Publisher: IVP
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781844741274

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Timothy Laniak is associate professor of Old Testament and coordinator of the Urban Ministry Certificate Program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. He is author of Shame and Honor in the Book of Esther (Scholars Press, 1998) and "Esther" in Ezra-Nehemiah-Esther (NIBC, 2003).

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‘I highly recommend Shepherds After My Own Heart, by Tim Laniak, for those serving in ministerial positions and/or interested in the biblical theology of the shepherd/sheep/flock metaphor found throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I also recommend this book for anyone interested in the study of leadership, Christian or otherwise.… His book represents an exhaustive study of the shepherd motif/metaphor in the Old and New Testaments, as well as ancient near eastern cultures. The analogies of a shepherd, undershepherds, sheep, goats, rams, ewes, and lambs provides a rich medium in which to help communicate the biblical theologies of 1) leadership, 2) the sacrificial care and concern of God for His people, 3) the visible church, 4) church discipline, 5) the role of human ministers, 6) the saving work of Christ, and 7) eschatology and judgment. The book is written to accommodate both the common laity as well as advanced biblical scholars. Someone with little or no knowledge of the Bible will appreciate it, as well as the Biblical language expert. In addition to its "standalone" value, the book has an advanced bibliography and detailed indexes to serve as a reference text for exegesis and sermon preparation.’ M. Young