“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, We can expect a complete fulfillment when they turn to Jesus as their Messiah. We can see an initial, partial fulfillment of this in modern-day Israel. In an immediate sense, this was fulfilled in the good and godly leaders Israel had after the exile men such as Zerubbabel Ezra Nehemiah Joshua the high priest Haggai Zechariah and Malachi. “The promise of restoration to the same state of affairs that obtained before the Exile was hardly adequate. This was a promise to bring things to a better place than they were before exile, when Israel was in the land but suffered under ungodly leaders. The godly leaders (especially in a spiritual sense) would feed them, bring them security, and prosperity ( nor shall they be lacking). I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them: One of the blessings God promised to a gathered Israel was godly leadership. They shall be fruitful and increase: Not only would God bring them back into His Promised Land, they would also be blessed there. We say initial, because Israel is definitely gathered back to the land, but presently in unbelief.ī. The modern-day miracle of Israel becoming an independent nation once again, after some 2500 years, is an initial fulfillment of these great promises. The promises to gather Israel back into the Promised Land are found in many prophecies of the New Covenant ( Jeremiah 32:37-41, Ezekiel 11:16-20, Ezekiel 36:16-28, Ezekiel 37:21-28). This is an aspect of the New Covenant God promised to Israel. Yet God promised that one day He would gather His sheep from all countries of their exile. I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them: One reason God scattered His people in exile was because of their unspiritual and ineffective leadership. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the LORD.Ī. “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds and they shall be fruitful and increase. ( Jeremiah 23:3-4) The promise to restore the wounded and scattered flock. ![]() Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings: God would address the evil work of the unfaithful shepherds. Jesus emphasized this in the restoration of Peter ( John 21), twice telling him to feed His sheep.ĭ. In the modern setting, this speaks to the great need for spiritual leaders among God’s people to feed God’s people. It could be said that none of the last kings of Judah (since Josiah: Jehoahaz, Jehoakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah) had any spiritual concern for God’s people ( My people). Against the shepherds who feed My people: This speaks mostly to the spiritual aspect of leadership, which the kings of Judah were expected to fulfill. This could all be traced back to ungodly and poor leaders for the people of God.Ĭ. Some were carried away to Babylon and the nations as captives, and others went as refugees to Egypt. ![]() The flock of Jeremiah’s day was indeed scattered. Who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture: These leaders were worthy of special woe because they did not benefit ( destroy) or keep together ( scatter) the people of God. Though Jeremiah spoke to leaders in a general sense (political leaders, business leaders, military leaders, education leaders, and spiritual leaders) we might place first emphasis in our day upon the shepherds as being spiritual leaders.ī. In those days, kings and other leaders were often called shepherds the term didn’t necessarily have a spiritual context. Now, in a general sense, He condemned such unfaithful shepherds. Woe to the shepherds: In the previous chapter, God pronounced His judgment and doom against several kings of Judah. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the LORD.Ī. Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. ![]() “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the LORD. ( Jeremiah 23:1-2) Woe to the shepherds who destroy. The Branch of Righteousness and the Unrighteous Prophetsġ.
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