Bible in 90, Day 55: The Bad Shepherd

Jeremiah 11-23

*image courtesy of costi at stock.xchng

Today’s reading includes a passage that serves as a warning both to those who serve as shepherds, and to those who have a shepherd in their life.  Through Jeremiah, God lays down some stringent demands on the shepherds of His people.  He condemns the shepherds of Israel for failing in their duty in Jeremiah 23.  They have scattered the flocks.  They have not cared for the sheep.  They prophesy falsely.  The live sinful lives.  Because of this, God says He will punish these unfaithful shepherds, and will replace them with ones who will serve properly.

God places shepherds in the lives of His people to care for them, to feed them, to protect them from wolves, to bring back the straying, to bind up the broken, and to lead the flock.  We who are shepherds care for God’s people by visiting them when they’re sick, praying for them, showing kindness and brotherly love.  We feed them by faithfully preaching and teaching the Word of God.  We protect them from the wolves that are false teachers with their subtle scheming and wrong teaching.  We bring back the straying by keeping up with those who disappear from the flock, addressing needs and hurts, and occasionally rebuking those in sin.  We bind up the broken by praying for, encouraging, and helping those who are hurting and in need spiritually.  We lead the flock by seeking God’s leadership in our own lives, which includes godly living.  Those shepherds who do not do these things faithfully are not serving their Master well, and may find themselves in the same boat with those in Jeremiah 23.

This is a warning to those of us who serve as shepherds.  Let’s live up to these standards, and more.  Let’s be faithful in our service to the Chief Shepherd.  Let’s not give God cause to replace us.

This is also a warning to others as well.  Let’s follow our shepherds, not harassing them or being stubborn or difficult (Hebrews 13:17).  Also, let’s not follow shepherds who are following the Master.  If we find ourselves following a shepherd who is not faithful, who is not a good example, who is not teaching the Word faithfully, who does not care for the flock, who, worse yet, scatters the flock, we must not follow such a one.  We must pray for him, and seek God’s wisdom in handling the situation, but we cannot allow a shepherd to remain unfaithful.

Let’s all work together for God’s glory and increased Kingdom.

*originally at Words of Reason