Civil leaders- Kings-princes-Elders-Judges-Religious leaders-priest-prophets.. ¤ Their job was to protect the ppl of GOD & to care for their needs.. ¤ BUT,the leadership of Israel failed miserably- Becoz rather than serve Gods ppl- They sought only to serve themselves. So god tell us tht Evil Shepherd are those who ¤ FLEECE THE FLOCK SCATTER THE SHEEP ¤ V1-3.God tell us tht these false shepherds Used their place of Authority to prosper themselved at the expense of the flock.. ¤ They fed themselves at the expense of the ppl..they clothed themselves at the expense of other ppl.. ¤ The symbolic picture is tht these shepherds who Ate sheep..rather than feed them..Shorn sheep rather thancaring for them... ¤ Jerusalem before her Fall.. The King-Priest-Prophet placed heavy finacial burdens on the ppl so tht they could live in luxury.. ¤ They viewed Gods ppl as a source of Wealth- Rather than a trust to be protected.. ¤ They forgot tht these were not their sheep,they were Gods.! They scattered the flock ¤ As a result of their Mismanagement & abuse the ppl were scattered.. ¤ Picture here the 3 invasions of Judah by Nebuchnezza. [King] With each invasion more &more of Gods ppl were Displaced or Killed.. Jewish ppl were scattered from Babylon in theEast,Assyria,to the North &Africa to the West.. ¤ The point of Leadership in Israel had failed to protect Gods ppl from such Disaster. ¤ Had they heeded the. Word of God & done as HE commanded then they would have been strenthened to Stand against their Enemies.. But their continual sin1eaked them,God removed His blessing & Ultimately brough judgement upon them scattering Gods ppl.. ¤ EVIL SHEPHERDS IN THE CHURCH.. Its an unfortunate truth tht the Church also has its share of Evil shepherds- Masquerading as Pastors & leaders.. Thts not a New phenomena, Rather theyve been with us since the church began... ¤¤ For example we find the Apostle Paul warning the Leaders in Ephesus to be on the look out for them.. [SAVAGE WOLVES WILL COME AMONG YOU- NOT SPARING THE FLOCK]... They still with us today..
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:55:55 +0000