SCATTERING SHEEP!

Ezekiel 34:1-10 TLB

Then this message came to me from the Lord: [2] "Son of dust, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Say to them, 'The Lord God says to you: Woe to the shepherds who feed themselves instead of their flocks. Shouldn't shepherds feed the sheep? [3] You eat the best food and wear the finest clothes, but you let your flocks starve. [4] You haven't taken care of the weak, nor tended the sick, nor bound up the broken bones, nor gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with force and cruelty. [5] So they were scattered, without a shepherd. They have become a prey to every animal that comes along. [6] My sheep wandered through the mountains and hills and over the face of the earth, and there was no one to search for them or care about them. [7] "'Therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: [8] As I live, says the Lord God, you abandoned my flock, leaving them to be attacked and destroyed, and you were no real shepherds at all, for you didn't search for them. You fed yourselves and let them starve; [9-10] therefore, I am against the shepherds, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock-and take away their right to eat. I will save my flock from being taken for their food.'"

 

"Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." Jesus knew this firsthand, understanding that His disciples would soon desert Him. In quoting Zechariah 13:7, Jesus emphasized that the striking of the shepherd serves to purify the people, the church, and the body of Christ.

In the Bible, the phrase "scattering of the sheep" is a metaphor symbolizing the dispersion and vulnerability of God's people when they lack proper leadership or guidance. This imagery highlights the consequences of spiritual neglect and the absence of righteous leadership.

Throughout the Old Testament, the metaphor of sheep and shepherds illustrates the relationship between God, His people, and their leaders. The negligence of Israel’s leaders led to the people's dispersion and vulnerability—something we still witness in society and the church today.

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, refers to this theme in the context of His impending crucifixion in Matthew 26:31, where He quotes Zechariah 13:7: "This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'”

Here, the scattering of the sheep is directly linked to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, with His disciples representing the sheep who are scattered as a result.

The scattering of the sheep serves as both a warning and a call to vigilance for leaders and followers within the Christian community. It emphasizes the importance of faithful and godly leadership, as well as the need for believers to remain steadfast in their faith.

Jesus contrasts Himself with the hired hand in John 10:11-12, highlighting His protective and sacrificial nature as the Good Shepherd. We must remain anchored in the truth of the Gospel and the person of Christ—not merely in the "man of God."

Just as in biblical times, the quality of leadership significantly impacts the well-being of communities. When leaders fail to provide proper guidance, support, or protection, people feel lost, vulnerable, and disconnected. This is true in religious settings, particularly within the church and the body of Christ, as well as in families, organizations, and societies at large.

We are responsible for our individual spiritual race, as stated in Philippians 2:12: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Therefore, we must remain alert and vigilant to avoid false spirits and deceptive leaders so that we are not led astray.

Many people around the world have disconnected from the church—and sadly, some from God—due to fragmentation within the body of Christ and unethical, unscriptural behaviours that fail to promote unity, love, and forgiveness.

The role of the church has not changed and will never change. As Christ declares in Matthew 16:18, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Yet, the church seems to have forgotten its responsibility: gathering and caring for the flock of Christ—reaching out to the lost, providing spiritual nourishment, and protecting the community from harmful influences. Unfortunately, the church is failing in these areas, leading many to leave in large numbers.

Jeremiah 23:1-2 delivers a stern warning to leaders even today: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" declares the Lord.

Ministers are condemned for failing to care for God’s people, and we see widespread church abuse and hurt. Jeremiah 50:6 further states that God’s people have become lost sheep due to inadequate leadership.

It is time to repent and turn away from scattering God’s sheep.

PRAYER: Lord, teach me to be a good and godly shepherd with the heart of Christ, that I may reach the dying world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/womenoflight/episodes/SCATTERING-SHEEP-e326ufv

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WE APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROUSITY AND SUPPORT.

SHALOM

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