Shepherds who Scatter

Articles

Larry Walker
02/16/16 - Leadership

Shepherds Who Destroy and Scatter God’s People, Jer. 23

Jeremiah has observed the potter at work in chapter 18, and learns that God is the potter and he will “remake” Judah and Jerusalem according to his will. In chapter 19, He is sent to the valley of Hinnom and before some of the elders and priests, smashes to pieces a vessel of pottery, to demonstrate the destruction of the nation. He then returns to the temple and proceeds to teach the people about this judgment. In chapter 20, Pashhur, priest who was chief governor of the temple, hears what he is saying and he beats Jeremiah and puts him in the stocks. The next day he is taken out, but he repeats his teaching, with additional warning specifically for the doom of Passhur and his family. “And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into captivity. You shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and be buried there, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.” [Jer. 20:6]. The false prophets who put their own power and status before the people of God - and their friends who listened to them – would die in Babylon.

This brought great persecution and suffering on Jeremiah. He pours out his soul in complaint and in fear, yet in confidence and trust in God. He reminds us of Job. He says he hurt so, he was so mocked and ridiculed, that he decided to just be quiet. But the word of Jehovah was like “fire in his bones”. He couldn’t help but speak it. He couldn’t hold back any more. Why? Because he believed in God’s purpose, trusted God’s goodness.

In chapters 21 and 22, Zedekiah sends messengers to Jeremiah: “Please inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all His wonderful works, that the king may go away from us." And Jeremiah repeats his prophecy of doom, not only for Zedekiah, but also for all of the last few kings of Judah.

See Jeremiah 23:1-4: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord. 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. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the Lord. "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. 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.

How do shepherds destroy and scatter God’s sheep? Those prophets made claims to be speaking the truth as surely as Jeremiah did. What had they done wrong?

First, they ignored their covenant relationship with God – at least THEIR part of it [see v. 5-8]. Anything that honored that covenant was of God. Anything that undermined or ignored that covenant was not and could not be of God. With this is mind Jeremiah listened to what they had to say and branded them true or false. (Paul did the same thing later). Jeremiah repeatedly spoke judgment against Israel because they broke the covenant. He saw it as treachery and the betrayal of a relationship! See 2:5-8.

Second, the prophets and priests only cared about material things, v. 9-14. Fine houses, pretty women, good wine, big feasts, entertainment. They loved the sensual and material, like the followers of Baal. Their God was their belly, in that they minded earthly things.

Third, their message to the people was always “Peace”, and it didn’t matter how they responded to God and the covenant, v. 16-18. That proved them to be false! They saw only peace for the nation despite its terrible guilt because they saw only peace for themselves despite their guilt.

Fourth, they didn’t speak with conviction and sometimes they knew that what they said wasn’t true. It came from their own heart, their own thinking, on observation of the times, v. 25-32. They liked to observe the scene and draw their own conclusions, instead of teaching the word of the Lord, and allowing that to inform the people. Speaking their own ideas, these “steal the word from their neighbor”.

Better no prophet than one who speaks lies; better no preacher than one who just gives his opinion; better no elders than elders who are saddled with material concerns.

Larry Walker

September, 08