God Gives Us Shepherds
I will gather what is left of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their pastures. They will be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them. They will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:3–4)
As Jeremiah served his ministry to the people of Judah, God called him to go specifically to the leaders of Israel. His job was to tell them that they had failed to lead God’s people. They had scattered the flock and had driven them away into exile. And God would repay them for their evil.
But God also promised that he would gather his people back together and would give them shepherds who would lead them according to his will. He would bring them back to their pastures and give them shepherds to watch over them. Some of those first shepherds would be leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah. They would turn the people back to the living God, who brought them back to Israel. They would point the people to look for the Good Shepherd, the branch of David who would reign wisely as king.
God still gives his people shepherds, who point his people back to the Good Shepherd. He gives pastors and teachers who faithfully proclaim the word of God to us, and lead us to what is God’s Will. They gather the sheep together and watch over them. They correct us when we are wrong, and show us God’s love and forgiveness. Our shepherds bring us the comfort that our living God has in store for us. Amen.
The song for today is “Shepherd Me, O God” by Marty Haugen