The Howling of the Sphepherds

Introduction

THe People Wander and Are Hurting because there are no good shepherds

Zechariah 10:2–3 “For the idols have spoken vanity, And the diviners have seen a lie, And have told false dreams; They comfort in vain: Therefore they went their way as a flock, They were troubled, because there was no shepherd. Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, And I punished the goats: For the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, And hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.”

The Character of the Shepherds is evil

Zechariah 11:16 “For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, Which shall not visit those that be cut off, Neither shall seek the young one, Nor heal that that is broken, Nor feed that that standeth still: But he shall eat the flesh of the fat, And tear their claws in pieces.”

do not visit

do not seek the lost ones

do not feed

The Punishment of the Shepherds is hard

Zechariah 11:17 “Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! The sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: His arm shall be clean dried up, And his right eye shall be utterly darkened.”

Sword

Arm dried up

Right eye darkened

Conclusion

The people’s only hope

Zechariah 10:6–12 “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: And they shall be as though I had not cast them off: For I am the Lord their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as through wine: Yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; Their heart shall rejoice in the Lord. I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: And they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: And they shall remember me in far countries; And they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, And gather them out of Assyria; And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; And place shall not be found for them. And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, And shall smite the waves in the sea, And all the deeps of the river shall dry up: And the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, And the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. And I will strengthen them in the Lord; And they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.”