Woe To The Shepherds
23 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ 7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”
Jeremiah 23:1-8
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Woe To The Shepherds
The Lord has great concern for his people. He calls you sheep. He knows you need to be kept. You need someone to lead you to water and to green grass. Left to your own devices, you get lost, die of thirst, and starve. You are a master of making trouble for yourselves. You are also a tasty treat for the wolves: the devil, the world, and your own sinful nature. He wants good and reliable and faithful shepherds. Yet, the same enemies are tempting and attacking the shepherds, too. Many a shepherd has failed at his job. Indeed, many a false preacher and teacher has tried to pass as a shepherd in God's flock. They do not have God's will in mind. They have their own earthly gain in mind. God won't have his sheep destroyed and scattered. He sends the Good Shepherd. He sends his own. The hired hands care nothing for the sheep. Jesus cares for the sheep. The righteous Branch has arrived. He has suffered and died for the sheep. He has kept the sheep when no one else would or could. The blood of his cross binds up the wounded and nourishes the weak. He bids his sheep, you, come and be with him forever. So he sends his own undershepherds. They are sent with the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is their only rule and norm. The green pastures and the quiet waters you require are given there by Jesus' hand.
Jeremiah 23:1-8
+
Woe To The Shepherds
The Lord has great concern for his people. He calls you sheep. He knows you need to be kept. You need someone to lead you to water and to green grass. Left to your own devices, you get lost, die of thirst, and starve. You are a master of making trouble for yourselves. You are also a tasty treat for the wolves: the devil, the world, and your own sinful nature. He wants good and reliable and faithful shepherds. Yet, the same enemies are tempting and attacking the shepherds, too. Many a shepherd has failed at his job. Indeed, many a false preacher and teacher has tried to pass as a shepherd in God's flock. They do not have God's will in mind. They have their own earthly gain in mind. God won't have his sheep destroyed and scattered. He sends the Good Shepherd. He sends his own. The hired hands care nothing for the sheep. Jesus cares for the sheep. The righteous Branch has arrived. He has suffered and died for the sheep. He has kept the sheep when no one else would or could. The blood of his cross binds up the wounded and nourishes the weak. He bids his sheep, you, come and be with him forever. So he sends his own undershepherds. They are sent with the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is their only rule and norm. The green pastures and the quiet waters you require are given there by Jesus' hand.
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2026
January
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