The Good Shepherd
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
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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.
Meditate
“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).
Think Further
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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