August 13, 2001
"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where
I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they
will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them
who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will
any be missing," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:3-4
Some things are important enough to us that we do them ourselves. In this passage I saw the heart of God for his people, his sheep so clearly displayed! It continually amazes me that God claims us no matter how much we've messed up, we are still HIS sheep! Even more than that he is personally involved in our lives and in meeting our needs! In the verses right before this he condemns the leaders for driving the people away and into sin but the emphasis is more on the fact that they were driving them and not leading as they should. A shepherd is supposed to guides; he literally goes before his sheep to ensure the way, to ensure their safety (Jn 10:4-5)... in this verse God promises to do that for his people... the fact that they had messed up pretty severely didn't diminish God's love or how much he was willing to work in their lives! He also promises in vs 4 to raise up people to lead them and over the course of Israel's history we see how God was faithful to that promise... at just the right time he raised up men to lead the people back to Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple, to rebuild that wall. God works and is faithful in our lives in exactly the same way today.. no matter how much we've messed up his love for us doesn't dim... he has no less vision for us because this is the hundredth or thousandth time we've blown it. God's heart overflows with a concern for where we are at, what we need and he provides it.. at just the right time he puts exactly what and who we need in our lives to help us grow the most.. whether we see it that way is another matter.. but that is the heart of God!