BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

As Abraham’s family multiplies into a great nation, Yahweh appoints leaders—prophets, priests, and kings—to guide and protect his people like shepherds caring for sheep. But these shepherds of Israel, prophets included, are failing to tend their flocks. Rather than protecting and nourishing the people with God’s instruction, they are abusing and consuming the people for their own gain.

Yahweh’s prophets are supposed to be something like covenant lawyers, holding the Israelites accountable to Yahweh’s instruction or law (Hebrew: torah) and reminding them of their agreement to obey it.

As you’ll learn in today’s video, God gave instruction to lead people into life and flourishing. But Israel’s corrupt prophets misuse Yahweh’s name to lead the Israelites down the deadly path of idolatry and injustice. Judah’s ruling officials, meanwhile, have become rotten like a basket of putrid figs.

So Yahweh promises to raise up a good shepherd for his people, a new king from David’s line who will gather his people and lead them into freedom along a new exodus way. His righteous staff, meaning his strong leadership that promotes right relating with each other and with God, is what will keep the people thriving in their garden land.

As for the false shepherds of Israel? They now have a furious lion at their throats. Yahweh roars disaster from his throne, sending his thunderous judgment from Babylon. Jeremiah envisions the Babylonian army as Yahweh’s cup of just anger. It’s the loving kind of anger parents feel when their children are being deceived and harmed. It may be loud and intense, but its aim is kind, intending to nourish good life and protect from harm.

Judah and all the nations will experience this divine, loving anger until they finally bend their knees and accept reality—Yahweh alone is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to goodness and safety by doing what’s right in their own eyes or by trusting material things.

The shepherds have led their flock astray. Now both shepherds and sheep stagger under Yahweh’s fierce judgment.

Reflection Questions

• Take a moment to compare Jeremiah 23:1-8 to Isaiah 11. What parallel themes and images do you notice? What have you learned from these two chapters about the anointed one from David’s line, the new exodus, and Yahweh’s promised restoration for Israel? How might this inform your understanding of Jesus and his ultimate mission?
• Meditate on Yahweh’s instructions about Israel’s religious and legal authority figures in Deuteronomy 17:8-18:22. How were these leaders supposed to relate to Israel’s covenant laws? How do the leaders in today’s reading measure up to the Torah’s requirements?