Image from thisischurch.com
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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)
The television commercial for neglected dogs gets me. The song that plays in the background and the pitiful condition of each animal just tears me up. And that's what the purpose of the commercial is; to touch us to the point where we will reach for our checkbook or credit card and bless them with a gift. Imagine God's heart when this passage was written. So many neglected people, some of their own volition and some because of the shepherds they had "watching" over them. Most of them scattered, doing their own thing, going their own way. God promised that the day was coming when these people of His flock would be gathered up, blessed, cared for, and they would become a blessing for all generations. Guess what? Promised fulfilled in Jesus. As we gather to worship this coming Sunday, we will proclaim again that Jesus is the King of Kings; the Shepherd King, the fulfillment of promise and prophecy. "The Lord is our righteousness."
It is a message we need to get out to the people; that God cares for them, loves them, and desires to have a relationship with them. It is something too big to be held just in the church - it is a message for all people, for all time, and for all places. God's compassion shouts out to us, and we should be the echo that reaches those who have not yet heard.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for keeping Your promises to us. Help us not to take this for granted. Grant us the courage to share You with all we can. Guide us to faithfulness in all things and in all ways. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
