My Shepherd

Zechariah 13:3-7 - And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies. “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive. Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.’ If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’ “Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the LORD Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.


Ezekiel 37:24 - “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.

Zechariah 11:11,15,17 - It was revoked on that day, and so the oppressed of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the LORD…Then the LORD said to me, “Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd…“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!”

Zechariah 12:10 - “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Mark 14:49 - Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

Application:

· Have I told lies in the Lord’s name?
· Have I been disobedient to God’s covenant?
· Do I care for my flock?
· Do I recognize the authoritative word of the Lord?
· Those who shepherd who are not the Lord’s choice are foolish and worthless
· If I fail to respond to the shepherds God provides, He can give me over to false shepherds
· Do I look to my Messiah in faith?
· Are we seeing Scripture fulfilled?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Worthless Shepherd

Zechariah 11:15-17 - Then the LORD said to me, “Take again the equipment of a foolish shepherd. For 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. “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!”


Ezekiel 34:2-3 - “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

Daniel 11:36-37 - “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

John 10:11,14-16 - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life 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.

Application:

· If I fail to respond to the shepherds God provides, He can give me over to false shepherds
· Those who shepherd who are not the Lord’s choice are foolish and worthless
· Have I neglected my sheep? Do I benefit at the cost of my sheep?
· Do I misuse my power by using it for my own gain rather than the good of others?
· The antichrist (worthless shepherd) will exalt himself, speak against God and will be successful (for a time)
· The antichrist will have no regard for Christ
· The Good Shepherd (Jesus) laid down His life for me
· The good shepherd knows me deeply
· The good shepherd unites His flock as one

All Scripture verses taken from NIV