Day 1002: The shepherd who cares - Zechariah 10 vs 1 - 7

1 Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field. 2 For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. 3 “My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders (male goats); for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.

4 From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler - all of them together. 5 They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses. 6-7 I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.” Zechariah 10:1-7 English Standard Version

It's generally thought that this chapter introduces prophecies which came later in Zechariah's ministry. He'd been speaking to people who'd returned from many years in exile. And although they were 'home again', they weren't the nation of old as in the days of King David. They were weak and vulnerable. What does he encourage them to do in vs 1?

He urges them to put their hopes in the Lord, and to turn their prayers to Him. In the past, and perhaps even in the days they were now living, they’d been misled by trusting in 'household gods'. These, like superstitions and horoscopes today, were false idols they'd copied from the nations. And because of the 'utter nonsense' of the diviners, the people were like a flock of lost sheep. What was the comfort Zechariah now gave them in vs 3?

The Lord of hosts cares for His sheep! Many years later, the apostle Peter said something similar to Christians who were going through difficult times. He wrote: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7) It's no surprise that when Jesus came into the world, He spoke of Himself as the 'good shepherd' who cares for His sheep so much that He was willing to lay down His life for them. (John 10:11)

Jesus also spoke of how false shepherds flee when danger is near, because they are hired hands and care nothing for the sheep. So Zechariah described how God's anger was hot against such shepherds – i.e. false leaders who were leading His people astray. That could refer to people among themselves, but I think it may refer more to the kings and governors of the nations who had subdued Israel. The reason I say that, is because God promised He was going to do something for 'the house of Judah'. (vs 3)

Way back in the first book of the Bible a prophesy was made by Jacob concerning his son Judah. He said “The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honour.” (Genesis 49:10) It was from the tribe of Judah that King David came. And, in the last book of the Bible when the apostle John saw a vision of a sealed scroll in God's hands which no-one could open, he heard a voice saying “Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5)

Zechariah used picture language in vs 5 to describe the ultimate victory promised to Judah. The words 'cornerstone, tent peg, and battle bow', (in vs 4) are easily applied to Jesus Christ. He is the foundation of our faith, the one who secures us, and the one who gained the victory over sin and death. No wonder Zechariah was able to say of those on whom God shows compassion and redeems, that “they shall be as though I had not rejected them”. That's the wonderful testimony of all who believe on the good Shepherd who cares, and who gave His life for the sheep.