Main Idea: God’s care is expressed through the Good Shepherd.
A Look at the Text:
Zechariah’s oracle continues in today’s text and opens with judgments upon the mighty of the land, symbolized as great trees (Zech. 11:1-3).[1] Then, with judgment in view, it is revealed that more hardships would come for Israel before the glories of the previous two chapters would be fully realized.
To showcase this, the Lord gave the prophet Zechariah an unusual commission: to become a shepherd over a flock of sheep that was destined for slaughter, symbolic of the people of Judah (Zech. 11:4).
They were a flock that wasn’t cared for by those in authority. The ones who bought them eagerly slaughtered them without remorse, while their owners were eager to sell them to make some money (Zech. 11:4-5). Essentially, there was no compassion amongst shepherds who should have cared for their sheep.
In contrast, Zechariah was hired as a good shepherd.
As a shepherd, he held two staffs, one named Favor and another named Unity (Zech. 11:7). Upon his arrival, Zechariah sent away the three shepherds who didn’t care for the sheep. Yet, tragically, the sheep (the people) detested him, and he became impatient with them (Zech. 11:8). As such, Zechariah left them alone, leaving them to die (Zech. 11:9).
Then, he broke his staff called “Favor,” effectively breaking God’s covenant with them (Zech. 11:10). Afterwards, Zechariah was paid the meager slave’s wages of thirty pieces of silver for his work, which he cast in the temple (Zech. 11:12-13).
Lastly, Zechariah broke his second staff, which symbolized the unity between Israel and Judah (Zech. 11:15). Because the people of the land had rejected the shepherd God sent, He was going to send another shepherd who didn’t care for the flock (Zech. 11:16-17).
Bringing it Home:
While this text in Zechariah is a bit enigmatic, it becomes clearer as we turn to the New Testament.
Though the people were destined to be slaughtered by their leaders, Zechariah was sent as a good shepherd who was subsequently rejected by the flock. Similarly, in the New Testament, we see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, came to His own people, but they did not receive Him (John 1:11).
Tragically, God’s love for His people was seldom returned to Him. The Good Shepherd was betrayed for slaves’ wages (Matt. 26:15) and was disdained by those He came to save.
Yet, it was actually through this that the Lord displayed His love. For this rejection was the foreordained means of salvation that God had brought for not only Israel, but for the whole world (Acts 2:22-24; John 3:16).
As we remember the Good Shepherd then, let us never believe that God doesn’t care for us. His care was proven once and for all through the One who willingly gave up His life for His sheep (John 10:11). While wicked shepherds would fatten their sheep to sell them for a profit, Christ is a Shepherd who sacrificially gives of Himself. He didn’t come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
Challenge:
Do I ever doubt God’s care for me because of life’s circumstances when His covenant-keeping, faithful love remains sure?
[1] Hermann J. Austel, “Zechariah,” in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, vol. 3, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995), 698.