And They Shall Walk Up And Down In His Name, Saith The Lord - Part 2362

"Out of Him came forth the corner, out of Him the nail, out of Him the battle bow, out of Him every oppressor together. And they shall be as mighty men ..." 

Herein, the Lord is speaking to His people through the prophet Zechariah. He points to the shepherds who have led His people astray.  He speaks of the idols which have spoken vanity, and the false diviners who say they have seen but testify a lie. The Lord also warns against those who share false dreams, and also attempt to comfort in vain. And, as a consequence, the Lord is showing why the people in the land have become troubled -- because there is no shepherd.

Specifically, the Lord saith, "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd." (Zechariah 10:1-2)

The Lord reiterates this same message through other prophets as well.

"And they were scattered, because [there is] no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered." (Ezekiel 34:5)

"As I live," saith the Lord God, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not My flock ..." (Ezekiel 34:8)

Thus saith the Lord God, "Behold, I AM against the shepherds; and I will require My flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them." (Ezekiel 34:10)

"My people perish for lack of knowledge ..." (Hosea 4:6)

Why are these scriptures important to understand? Because in the next verse, the Lord saith, "Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats ..." (Zechariah 10:3)  The Lord further explains, "My tabernacle is spoiled, and all My cords are broken. My children are gone forth of Me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth My tent any more, and to set up My curtains." (Jeremiah 10:20)

Before continuing, it might be helpful to understand that the word for idols is "teraphim" which means worshippers of idols, and by extension, the idolatrous who worship idols of stone, gold, silver, brass, and wood. These people should know that idols can't hear or see, but yet these are still willing to worship them. As for the false diviners, the Lord is saying these speak lies in hypocrisy, blaspheming the precious, holy Name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, because they do not know in whom they serve.  In other words, the diviners prophesy falsehoods. 

"... whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, "Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not." (Zechariah 11:5)

Throughout, the Lord is warning against those religious leaders who comfort our souls in vain. Examples of these kinds of vain comfort includes religious dogma without any scriptural basis, purgatory and/or the belief that men can forgive sins. We can also point to the increasing number of self-declared prophets who are more aligned with the message of motivational speakers than having an understanding of the Lord God our Saviour. 

Thankfully, all is not lost. The Lord was compassionate on His beloved. Indeed, the Lord had a redemption plan wherein He would bring salvation to those who are lost. And we see this -- when we begin to understand how much the Lord was moved with compassion -- because His sheep were without a shepherd. It is for this reason, the Lord saith, "For, lo, I will raise up a Shepherd in the land ..." (Zechariah 11:16)

After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16; II Corinthians 5:19; Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 9:6) 

"And ye shall call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)

From the New Testament -- "when Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." (Matthew 9:36)

"And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34)

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be One fold, and One Shepherd." (John 10:16)

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant ..." (Hebrews 13:20)

"For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (I Peter 2:25)

"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away." (I Peter 5:4)

Stand in the offering plate.