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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Jeremiah 23:1 - 23:8
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The Restoration of the Scattered Flock
v. 1. Woe be unto the pastors, the rulers, the spiritual leaders of the people in particular, that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith the Lord, Israel and Judah, specifically the congregation of the Lord in the midst of the people, are called the flock of Jehovah's pasturage because He attends them with His particular care. All the more reason, therefore, to denounce the leaders who were so willfully forgetful of their duties.
v. 2. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed My people, to whom this sacred duty was entrusted, Ye have scattered My flock and driven them away, instead of holding them together in a compact flock, and have not visited them, this being the most reprehensible form of neglect. Behold, I will visit upon you, in a visitation of His avenging wrath, the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
v. 3. And I will gather the remnant of My flock, the true spiritual Israel, out of all countries whither I have driven them, for although the people themselves had permitted themselves to be corrupted by their false leaders, yet the burden of the guilt lay on the rulers, this phase of the matter being emphasized in this instance, and will bring them again to their folds, as congregations of believers; and they shall be fruitful and increase, according to the blessings of the Gospel-promise.
v. 4. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them, teach them in full agreement with the will of Jehovah; and they shall fear no more nor be dismayed, terrified by the coming of the enemies; neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord, they will not be missed, that is, they would no more be lost from the flock, since the Lord's shepherds would take the best care of them. The Messianic import of this passage is unmistakable, but this factor is brought out even more strongly in the next paragraph.
v. 5. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, success attending His wise and prudent dealing, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
v. 6. In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely. And this is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our, Righteousness. Here the Messiah is spoken of by a name, in a figure, which is used also by Isaiah and Zechariah. To David, namely, as a descendant of Judah, as a member of his family, Jehovah will cause to arise a righteous Branch, a shoot characterized by, and distinguished for, righteousness. This Branch will at the same time be a King, who would have royal power and would make use of that power and authority in taking care of the affairs of His kingdom in a prudent manner. The excellency of His rule would be brought out particularly by the fact that He would perform judgment and execute righteousness according to unquestioned standards, although unusual in the eyes of men. For He would show these traits in bringing salvation to Judah and in letting Israel dwell in safety, both expressions referring to the true spiritual Israel, the Church of Christ. No wonder, then, that His name would be called "Jehovah Our Righteousness," since, by virtue of His perfect atonement, all men may become partakers of the righteousness earned by Him for them.
v. 7. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, in the form of oath prevalent at that time. The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
v. 8. but, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel, the stock of the new people of Jehovah, out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them, since the Lord had scattered them throughout the countries pertaining to the Babylonian Empire; and they shall dwell in their own land. Cf. Jer_16:14-15. "Jehovah Our Righteousness" is the one Hope of all mankind; for by faith in His redemption men become partakers of the righteousness earned by Him, which makes them just in the sight of God.