Saturday, May 1, 2021

Jeremiah 23 SERIES: Vs.1-4

 Commentary of Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke & Matthew Henry
 
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
Vs.1-4
 
Among the wicked prophets and priests, whose bad character is here given at large in divers instances, especially their imposing upon the people with their pretended inspirations, at which the prophet is astonished, and for which they must expect to be punished.
 
Woe be to the pastors - who should be to those they are set over as pastors to lead them, feed them, protect them, and take care of them.
They are not owners of the sheep
God here calls them the sheep of my pasture, whom I am interested in, and have provided good pasture for. 
 
---Woe be to those therefore who are commanded to feed God's
people, and pretend to do it, but who, instead of that, scatter the flock, and drive them away.
 
Here is a word of comfort to the neglected sheep. Though the under-shepherds take no care of them, no pains with them, but betray them, the chief Shepherd will look after them.
 
If the under-shepherds do not feed the flock, God Himself will do it, for His own redeemed flock shall not be torn of wolves, nor left to perish in the lands whither they are driven. 
That great Shepherd of the sheep will do what others fail to do; but this does not take away from them their responsibility, and it must be the most solemn responsibility that rests on mortal man to profess to be a shepherd of souls, yet not to be sent of God.
 
What a dreadful woe this is upon all false shepherds, — those who profess to be sent of God to instruct the people, but who are not sent of God at all, whose labors only result in the scattering of the sheep, and destroying them, instead of gathering them to Christ for their salvation!