Imagine if you will, that you hired someone to babysit your young, preschool child while you were at work. You expect them to be diligent in watching over and caring for your child, keeping them from harm, playing with them, feeding them, etc. When they get older and attend school we expect the same careful attention by their teachers. If we hire someone to watch our pets while we are away on a vacation we also want them to treat them with care. If this person mistreats our child or pet we naturally are furious, and possibly even take legal action against them. Knowing these natural feelings and reactions, would we think that God would feel any less about His children? In our Scripture today we read of His reaction when these shepherds who were to care for His people have failed in their duty.
Both in the past and today, God has raised up spiritual leaders to lead, guide, and care for His people. In the Old Testament they were often called shepherds, and the people as their flock. However, as the prophet Jeremiah received his message, God was going to bring judgment on the false shepherds, those who were failing in their duty, which by this time were so many of them. God also promised the coming of the righteous King, the Messiah and Savior.
As our Scripture begins, God pronounces woe, or judgment upon the unfaithful shepherds who have scattered and destroyed His flock (vs. 1-2). In the Old Testament days, the priests, the prophets, and also the kings were meant to shepherd the people of Israel. However, they had failed terribly. So many of them were leading the people astray into both idolatry and injustice. These shepherds were supposed to be genuine, but were actually fake. Instead of acting as godly leaders who would serve and care for their people, they used their power to mislead and exploit them. They acted with malevolence, destroying and scattering the sheep (Ezekiel 34:1-6). They behaved as enemies of the sheep.
Things are no different today. False religious leaders, preachers, and teachers continue to scatter people who have come to them for truth and God’s Word, yet they receive anything but that. How many preachers, and even whole denominations, do not believe or preach that the Bible is God’s inspired Word? Or they are preaching that if the people send them their offerings God will then bless them with wealth and prosperity. Far too many only preach nice, warm and fuzzy, feel-good messages, not the whole Word of God. This passage is a warning against compromising God’s truth for popularity or worldly gain.
As the prophet Jeremiah continued, he spoke that though these leaders had failed, God promised to regather His people (vs. 3-4). This pointed to the restoration after the Babylonian exile, but ultimately to Jesus Christ’s work of gathering His Church. These faithful and true shepherds that He would raise up were leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah, and true prophets like Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. They would later include the apostles, and today the few but faithful pastors who truthfully preach God’s Word. Faithful pastors today must feed the flock with sound doctrine (Acts 20:28). Christians will be fed and grow spiritually when the shepherds are faithful to the Scriptures.
Jeremiah proceeded to bring a word of prophecy (vs. 5). The “Branch” is a clear reference to the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1). The Messiah would come from King David’s line, fulfilling the covenant promises. Unlike the many corrupt kings that had ruled over the people, this King will reign wisely and justly. This verse points directly to Jesus Christ, the true Shepherd-King. He rules in righteousness, unlike human leaders who fail.
The Messiah would bring salvation to God’s people (vs. 6). Ultimately, this points to spiritual salvation through Jesus’ finished work on the cross. This Scripture passage ends with the proclamation of a name that the Messiah would have - The Lord our Righteousness, or Yahweh Tsidkenu. Jesus Himself is our righteousness (I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 5:21). We are justified not by works, but by His imputed righteousness. This is the heart of the Gospel. Our standing before God rests not on our merit, but on Christ’s righteousness which has been credited to all who put their faith and trust in Him.
As we close this Scripture, we see that God will hold all preachers and leaders accountable for how they treat His flock. He wants His children properly fed from His Word and cared for. As believers, we must test what our pastors and teachers tell us against the Bible to avoid being scattered by false doctrine. Don’t be led astray by something that may sound nice, or with what fits in with whatever popular philosophies or ideas are around. If it doesn’t line up with what the Bible says, we must reject it. And finally, Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone, who is The Lord our Righteousness. While human shepherds may fail, the Good Shepherd never does.
This meditation about false teaching is so true and was prophesized by Jesus.
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