ZECHARIAH 11:16

“‘For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or provide for the one who is exhausted, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs.’”

I get asked a lot why God allows His children to be tested so much. These questions come from solid believers, people who truly love Jesus. Do you know what I tell them? I say, “I don’t know.” Isn’t that a great answer? Seriously, I don’t know, but I trust Him. I know He wants what is best for me. I may not see it now, but it’s coming.

The Lord, speaking through Zechariah, tells the people that He is going to raise up someone (or some nation) to test them. They will be scattered, stricken and left with no hope. Why? Because of their rebellion and lack of repentance. Sin will have its reward. That reward costs us – a lot. Israel’s sin was costly. Not a very encouraging word.

APPLICATION

Read Ezekiel 34:1-5. Zechariah seems to pulling from Ezekiel’s words. Look at verses 3-4. “3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. 4 Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you searched for the lost; but with force and with violence you have dominated them.”

Just who is Ezekiel and Zechariah talking about? The false prophets and religious leaders of the day were guilty of leading the people right into bondage. How? They were not teaching the people God’s commandments. They had gotten lazy and now the people were going to suffer.

Listen to me. If you are a leader or teacher in your church, you had better take it seriously. You are responsible, as a teacher, for every word that you teach. You can’t make the people follow it, but you have to teach it. Don’t be weak. Be bold and present the Word unfiltered.

Lord, keep me accountable to others for the words I use when I teach.