November 15, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Good Shepherd

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord, where I have become over-familiar with Your Word, wake me up to the awesome privilege of meeting with You.

Read Zechariah 10:1–12

For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.

[1] Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone. [2] The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd. [3] “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the people of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle. [4] From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler. [5] Together they will be like warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame. [6] “I will strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. [7] The Ephraimites will become like warriors, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD. [8] I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before. [9] Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return. [10] I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them. [11] They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will be brought down and Egypt’s scepter will pass away. [12] I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will live securely,” declares the LORD.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“We serve a God who able, a shepherd who is available. A God in the heavens and a shepherd in our hearts” (Adrian Rogers, 1931–2005).

There are plenty of bad “shepherds” in our world today: people who tell us (often for their own advantage) how we should live and what’s important. Do we just follow, like sheep, going along with everyone else? Zechariah’s words show us another way and a different kind of shepherd.

 

The locals worshiped gods like Baal, the supposed providers of good harvests and other necessities (2). God’s people, while worshiping Jehovah-Jireh (“the Lord will provide,” Gen. 22:14) still wanted to keep in with these local practices. How easy it is to get caught up in the ways and values of those around us! But why give lip-service—and more—to deceiving idols when we have the Creator God on our side? “Ask the Lord for rain” (1)! Angered by the negligent shepherds (2,3), God promises to shepherd his “flock” himself (Zech. 9:16; John 10:1–21). Zechariah points to Jesus, who is also “the cornerstone” (Psa. 118:22–24; Isa. 28:16; Eph. 2:19–22)—the one in whom God’s people are held together (4). So, how does God, our shepherd, care for us?

 

With compassion, he will fight for and with us (5,6). The day may come when identifying ourselves as his people will also involve physical danger. Troubles certainly lay ahead for the people of Judah. Yet, God promises that he will save his people and bring them home (9,10). Listen for God’s calling; like a shepherd, he “whistles” to his sheep (8, NLT). Stay close to him and we will be safe. Zechariah reminds God’s people of their redemption through the Red Sea crossing (11) and reminds us of our own, through Jesus’ death and resurrection (8). God does not promise that following him will be easy; he does promise that he will give us the strength we need and keep us safe when we entrust our lives to him.

Apply

“The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want… I’ll trust in you alone” (Stuart Townend). What do you need to entrust to God’s care today?

Closing prayer

My Shepherd, my Host, with You I have all I need.

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