Where Shepherds Fail, He Shepherds Still

Ah, shepherds who let the flock of My pasture stray and scatter!—declares GOD. Assuredly, thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who should tend My people: It is you who let My flock scatter and go astray. You gave no thought to them, but I am going to give thought to you, for your wicked acts—declares GOD. And I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will bring them back to their pasture, where they shall be fertile and increase. And I will appoint over them shepherds who will tend them; they shall no longer fear or be dismayed, and none of them shall be missing—declares GOD. See, a time is coming—declares GOD—when I will raise up a true branch of David’s line. He shall reign as king and shall prosper, and he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be delivered and Israel shall dwell secure. And this is the name by which he shall be called: “GOD is our Vindicator.”. Presumably a play on the name of King Zedekiah. Assuredly, a time is coming—declares GOD—when it shall no more be said, “As GOD lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt,” but rather, “As GOD lives, who brought out and led the offspring of the House of Israel from the northland and from all the lands to which I have banished them.” And they shall dwell upon their own soil. Concerning the prophets.My heart is crushed within me,All my bones are trembling; I have become like someone drunk,Like one overcome by wine—Because of GOD and because of God’s holy word. For the land is full of adulterers,The land mourns because of a curse; The pastures of the wilderness are dried up.For they run to do evil,They strain to do wrong. For both prophet and priest are godless;Even in My House I find their wickedness—declares GOD. Assuredly,Their path shall becomeLike slippery ground;They shall be thrust into darknessAnd there they shall fall;For I will bring disaster upon them,The year of their doom—declares GOD. In the prophets of SamariaI saw a repulsive thing:They prophesied by BaalAnd led My people Israel astray. But what I see in the prophets of JerusalemIs something horrifying:Adultery and false dealing.They encourage evildoers,So that no one turns back from their own wickedness.To Me they are all like Sodom,And [all] its inhabitants like Gomorrah. Assuredly, thus said GOD of Hosts concerning the prophets:I am going to make them eat wormwoodAnd drink a bitter draft;For from the prophets of JerusalemGodlessness has gone forth to the whole land. Thus said GOD of Hosts:Do not listen to the words of the prophetsWho prophesy to you.They are deluding you,The prophecies they speak are from their own minds,Not from the mouth of GOD. They declare to those who despise Me: GOD has said:“All shall be well with you”;And to all who follow their willful hearts they say:“No evil shall befall you.” But he who has stood in GOD’s council,And seen, and heard God’s word—He who has listened to that word must obey. Lo, GOD’s storm goes forth in fury,A whirling storm,It shall whirl down upon the heads of the wicked. The anger of GOD shall not turn backTill it has fulfilled and completed God’s purposes. In the days to comeYou shall clearly perceive it. I did not send those prophets,But they rushed in;I did not speak to them,Yet they prophesied. If they have stood in My council,Let them announce My words to My peopleAnd make them turn backFrom their evil ways and wicked acts. Am I only a God near at hand—says GOD—And not a God far away? If somebody enters a hiding place,Do I not see them?—says GOD.For I fill both heaven and earth—declares GOD. I have heard what the prophets say, who prophesy falsely in My name: “I had a dream, I had a dream.” How long will there be in the minds of the prophets who prophesy falsehood—the prophets of their own deceitful minds— the plan to make My people forget My name, by means of the dreams that they tell each other, just as their ancestors forgot My name because of Baal? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream; and let the one who has received My word report My word faithfully! How can straw be compared to grain?—says GOD. Behold, My word is like fire—declares GOD—and like a hammer that shatters rock! Assuredly, I am going to deal with the prophets—declares GOD—who steal My words from one another. I am going to deal with the prophets—declares GOD—who wag their tongues and make oracular utterances. I am going to deal with those who prophesy lying dreams—declares GOD—who relate them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies, when I did not send them or command them. They do this people no good—declares GOD. And when this people—or a prophet or a priest—asks you, “What is the burden of GOD?” you shall answer them, “What is the burden? I will cast you off”—declares GOD. As for the prophet or priest or layperson who shall say “the burden of GOD,” I will punish them and their household. Thus you shall all

Jeremiah 23:1–20 holds together two cries in one breath: God's anger at shepherds who scatter His flock, and God's promise to gather, appoint, and reign over them through a righteous Branch. Suffering is named first; comfort follows because the Lord Himself refuses to leave His people lost.