Jeremiah 23:1-24
Q.1. What damage had the shepherds of Judah done? What prophecy did God give concerning the sheep and the great Shepherd? – (Jer.23:1-6)
God accused the shepherds of destroying and scattering His sheep, and He was about to punish them (Jer.23:1-2). He promised that in future – I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply (Jer.23:3). The Lord foretold that days are coming – 5 … When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. 6 “In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’ (Jer.23:5-6). Jeremiah prophesied again about the righteous Branch and adds – In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety … (Jer.33:16). This will eventuate when Christ rules over His Millennial Kingdom (c.f. Jer.33:14-26; Mic.4:1-5)
Q.2. What event will eclipse the Exodus for significance? In what way had the leaders outraged God? What will He do to them? – (Jer.23:7-24)
As long as Israel occupied the Promised Land she always looked back and celebrated its miraculous deliverance out of Egypt (Jer.23:7). However, this miraculous beginning will be eclipsed by a new marvel when they will say – ‘As the Lord lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ Then they will live on their own soil (Jer.23:8 c.f. Isa.43:5-6; Jer.16:15; Ezk.34:13; Amos 9:14-15). The prophets and priests had outraged God with their wickedness and false preaching, that had led Israel astray (Jer.23:9-14). He warned that – they are leading you into futility … they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord … I did not send these prophets, but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied (Jer.23:16 & 21). He was about to punish them – The anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has performed and carried out the purposes of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it (Jer.23:20). God asserted that – if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people and they would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds (Jer.23:22). These false prophets had failed the test (Jer.23:18).