SHEPHERDED

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.”

Jeremiah 33:12-13

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we saw in yesterday’s devotion, a day of restoration was coming for the Israelites who were exiled to Babylon, a seventy year exile imposed by God for His people’s sinful disrespect and disobedience unto Him. When they had been taken from their homeland by the Babylonians, it was hardly a day of celebration. Rather, it was a time of deep mourning and grieving as they watched their towns, homes, and kingdom ravaged and left in ruins. Everything was destroyed including God’s holy temple in Jerusalem, the very temple that the Israelites desecrated by worshiping false gods and idols within.

The Israelites were taken into captivity with nothing and everything they had which was left behind was in piles of rubble and ashes.

But God inserted words of hope into this bleak scene for he would set things in motion for the Israelites to return home to rebuild their towns and cities, their lives, and their relationship with God. The streets would once again be filled with sounds of joy and gladness as the people of God would worship and rejoice in Him, proclaiming His goodness and everlasting love to all. They had been abandoned by God for seventy years, a punishment for the way they had abandoned Him for other gods, but they would have their Shepherd back to guide and protect them once again.

This thought is a great lead in to today’s verses as we continue to study Chapter 33 of the Book of Jeremiah. Look again at these words here:

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate and without people or animals—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. In the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 33:12-13

As we see, God was renewing all things for His people, including a return to the work they did before they were taken away. The pastures surrounding Jerusalem and throughout Judah would once again spring to life providing food for the flocks of sheep to graze on as the shepherds were able to return to the business they were skilled in. They would have a place to tend to their flocks who would “pass under the hand of the one who counts them”. The shepherds were always careful to make sure they had all the sheep together in their flock. They never wanted one of their sheep to go astray.

Friends, the word of God today serves to remind us that we too have a Good Shepherd in Jesus who cares for us, the sheep of His flock. This is what He had to say about His relationship to us in this regard:

 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the Shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”

“I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know me—just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”  John 10:10-16

Perhaps there is no better illustration of our relationship with Jesus, our Savior, than this. He loves us, those of His flock, with a love that would lead Him to lay down His life for us, and indeed He did just that, paying the price for our sinfulness on Calvary’s cross, dying so we, His sheep, might live. Note that He also loves His sheep so much that He wishes that none of them would be left out of His sheep pen. Those who are not in Him, those who have not found their Good Shepherd, are not abandoned but rather sought after with the hope of bringing them into the flock. In the end, Jesus, our Good Shepherd desires that all His sheep would be in His care.

Today, we should rejoice and be glad that we are not left to run amok with no guidance, protection from danger, or a safe place to rest. Because we do have a Great Shepherd in Jesus who is great because He was sent to shepherd and save all sheep in the world by the greatest Shepherd of all, God the Father. Since the dawn of creation, it is He who has been the Shepherd of all people.

We know because we can draw from this beloved psalm, perhaps the best known of them all, and give thanks that we are shepherded, now and forever:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the  Lord forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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