S) "16 For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs."
Zechariah 11:16 (NASB)
O) Zechariah was told to shepherd a doomed flock, which had unfit shepherds previously. However, while in his care, unity and favor were broken. This symbolized the breaking of Judah and Israel, that God's people would never be unified again (as a single kingdom under God, as in David's time). The favor, the Old Covenant, also was broken (vv.7-11). The verse above shows us a contrast against Jesus. The verse above describes the leadership the people suffered, all the way until Messiah came. When we look forward to the opening of the gospels, we see Jesus condemning the scribes, lawyers, Pharisees, and Sadducees for all of these same things. But, then Jesus describes Himself as the good Shepherd. It is important to see that the break of the old covenant, and the old unity, was necessary in order for their to be new unity among all people, through Jesus Christ, and a New Covenent through the work on the cross and in the grave.
A) Growth is hard. It is important to remember that God disciplines. In His sovereignty, He will elect for me to go through trials, rather than around them (avoiding them). He needs me to understand my own needs. Not my external needs, because He can easily give me such prosperity that I'd never know physical need. But, He wants me to know the need of my heart. I must recognize that He came to save me from myself. I was shepherding myself with evil. In my sins, I deserved destruction, and annihilation (like Zechariah described in v.9). But Jesus isn't the Shepherd I deserve, but He is the Shepherd I need.
P) Father, I need Your shepherding guidance. In Your wisdom and grace, You took me out of a poisonous and deadly flock. Even now, there are painful lessons I am still learning, but I pray that I am at least learning the lessons Your teaching. Open my eyes and ears, because I don't want to miss what You're doing in my life. Have Your way with me, but keep me close, Shepherd. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment