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1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord 5 The days are surely coming, says 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 live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness." (Jeremiah 23:1-6 NRSV)
PRAYER UPDATE: Rev. Virgilio Vasquez Garza's surgery went well, the only fear is if his body rejects what was inserted near his eye, according to Mrs. Acacia Garza. This evening, Tuesday 7/16, he called me and we chatted as he recapped his surgery. He is upbeat and hopeful, and thankful to the Lord of His presence and comfort. Let us continue to pray for his complete healing.
The ending for bad shepherds is not going to be good. Anytime that a sentence begins with the word "Woe" you know God means business. And the sentence pretty much sums up the seriousness of the offenses the bad shepherds are guilty of; "Who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" The metaphor of shepherds and sheep is commonly used throughout the Bible to illustrate the relationship between leaders and their people. Here, the "shepherds who destroy and scatter" refer to the kings, priests, and other leaders who have led the people astray through idolatry, injustice, and neglect of their duties.
It is easy to ask who are the shepherds who destroy and scatter; after all, woe to them! And what I believe that these shepherds as presented here symbolize those in positions of authority—political, religious, and social—who have misused their power and influence. They have neglected to care for God’s people, leading them into spiritual and moral decay. Instead of protecting and guiding the flock, they have scattered them by their actions and decisions, causing them to suffer and be driven away from their land and their God. Dare we say this still holds true today to politicians and pastors? I dare say that a glance fo the headlines gives that answer away, sadly.
Can we blame God for driving away those in the remant mentioned in verse 3? The passage does not directly blame God for driving the remnant to other nations; rather, it emphasizes that because of the failures of the shepherds, God will intervene to gather the scattered remnant back to Himself. God, in His justice, allows the consequences of disobedience to unfold, but He also promises restoration and renewal for those who remain faithful. As part of our preparation as pastors, we were taught that because we were called by God to be His shepherds among His people, we were to take that very seriously. Through prayer, reflection and direction from The Holy Spirit, we come to love in a way that seeks the best of those under our care. True disciples seek to put aside selfish gains and place the needs of our flock above our own plans and goals and then strive to accomplish that to the honor and glory of God. If the shepherd is faithful, he or she will guide the flock to a better place and will care for them in all ways.
PRAYER: Awesome God, the True Good Shepherd, we come before you acknowledging our need for true shepherds—leaders who guide with wisdom and compassion, who reflect Your heart for justice and righteousness. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have failed to care for others as You have called us to. Help us to be faithful stewards of the responsibilities and influence You have entrusted to us. Strengthen us to follow Your Son, Jesus Christ, the righteous Branch, who leads us in paths of righteousness and peace. May Your name be glorified in all we say and do. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Reflect on the roles and responsibilities of leadership in your community, workplace, or church. Are there areas where leaders may be failing to shepherd with integrity, compassion, and justice? Pray for them and consider how you can support and encourage leadership that aligns with God’s heart. Additionally, examine your own life and influence. Are you being a faithful shepherd to those around you—your family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors? Seek opportunities to shepherd others with love, humility, and a commitment to righteousness, reflecting the character of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
