SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 50
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
“My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned against the LORD, their verdant pasture, the LORD, the hope of their ancestors.’ [Jeremiah 50:6-7]
Even though God used Babylon to punish Israel for their sin, He will punish them for how they did it – with joy and cruelty, crushing the people without regard for justice or mercy [Jeremiah 50:11-12].
Interspersed between these words of judgment are words of hope for the harassed and helpless sheep of Israel – scattered sheep, misled and abused and neglected by their shepherds – with no place to rest or find peace.
But where human shepherds failed, God will come as a good shepherd.
Yet their Redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. [Jeremiah 50:33-34]
As the Good Shepherd, God will bring His people rest.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [Matthew 9:35-36]
Jesus is God in the flesh, coming as the Good Shepherd to rescue and restore His harassed and helpless sheep.
He brings the good news of God’s rule – He heals, He restores, He brings hope and comfort and rest.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. [John 10:11-13]
Unlike the leaders that harass and harm the sheep (whether the leaders of Israel or Babylon, whether the Jewish leaders or the leaders of Rome), Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
God is restoring His promised land of rest (His kingdom), and He will root out everyone and everything that stands in His way.
He uses the powers that be (including Babylon and Rome) to accomplish His purpose, but they will be judged for they sin, their guilt, their crimes against humanity.
He is the Good Shepherd – no one can snatch us from His hands!
Our Redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend our cause so that he may bring rest to our land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. [Jeremiah 50:33-34]

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You,thank You, thank You, for being the Good Shepherd, the One leader that we can trust not to use and abuse us. Thank You for leading me into Your rest and peace!