The Lord Brings the People Home

God Loves Us
God's Caring, Saving, and Upholding Love

God as Our Shepherd

Jeremiah 23:1-8 The Message

An Authentic David-Branch

23 1-4 “Doom to the shepherd-leaders who butcher and scatter my sheep!” God’s Decree. “So here is what I, God, Israel’s God, say to the shepherd-leaders who misled my people: ‘You’ve scattered my sheep. You’ve driven them off. You haven’t kept your eye on them. Well, let me tell you, I’m keeping my eye on you, keeping track of your criminal behavior. I’ll take over and gather what’s left of my sheep, gather them in from all the lands where I’ve driven them. I’ll bring them back where they belong, and they’ll recover and flourish. I’ll set shepherd-leaders over them who will take good care of them. They won’t live in fear or panic anymore. All the lost sheep rounded up!’ God’s Decree.”
5-6 “Time’s coming”—God’s Decree—
    “when I’ll establish a truly righteous David-Branch,
A ruler who knows how to rule justly.
    He’ll make sure of justice and keep people united.
In his time Judah will be secure again
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name they’ll give him:
    ‘God-Who-Puts-Everything-Right.’
7-8 “So watch for this. The time’s coming”—God’s Decree—“when no one will say, ‘As sure as God lives, the God who brought the Israelites out of Egypt,’ but, ‘As sure as God lives, the God who brought the descendants of Israel back from the north country and from the other countries where he’d driven them, so that they can live on their own good earth.

For Reflection

The corrupting leaders God refers to are civic, not spiritual.  Here, God promises to establish leaders who will not deceive people and lure them away from their faith. In God's time and when God's people were receptive, God set a just king and restored God's people.  God's people are invited to be counted again among the household of God.

Pray

Thank God for the gift of the Prophets.  Pray for those who guide us in the manner of Christ.  Pray that you will not give into the seductions in the promises of false rewards.