16For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves.
17"Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!"
- P133
Lebanon‘s cedars are destroyed. Shepherds wail and lions roar. Zechariahenacts a shepherd‘s role, tending to the flock marked for slaughter with twostaffs called Favor and Union. The people reject the shepherd so he breaks thetwo staffs. Zechariah then portrays a foolish shepherd who does not care forthe flock, because God will raise a leader who will care nothing for the people.- P131
Zechariah uses a metaphor of shepherds and sheep to describe Judah‘s sinsand God‘s wrathful response to those sins. Because the leaders of Judahmistreat and oppress the people, they face God‘s judgment for their actions.
However, the people themselves are ungrateful and even detest God. Boththe shepherds and the flock reject the God who cares for them all. - P134
As aresult, the sheep are left with a worthless, foolish shepherd who does notcare for the sheep and deserts the flock. We see God‘s divine justice on fulldisplay as the people face the consequences of their unfaithfulness. The twostaffs of Favor and Union are also broken, symbolizing the broken promisesand relationships that result when God‘s people despise Him and allow sinand selfishness to overtake their lives.- P134
Dear Jesus, thank you for being the Good Shepherd. Help us reflect Yourcaring love as a family. - P134
Keep us from being foolish shepherds and protect usfrom being led astray. In Your name, amen.
- P134
