Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)
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Chapter 23Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Verse 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Verse 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. Verse 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. Verse 5The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Verse 6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness."
Devotion
The office of pastor is often equated with being a shepherd. But this is also a shared responsibility with all the baptized. As Christians we are called to serve in many and various vocations in God’s world and care for neighbor and creation. However, as we well know, we often fail. Jeremiah does not mince words. Woe to those shepherds who scatter flocks. This accusation convicts our hearts and our good intentions. Yet God attends to us not with punishment but with mercy and forgiveness through a righteous branch, one who will come and give us hope and promise and life.
We are set free daily to be God's shepherds because we have a God who attends to us with hope and peace and justice. We are to be faithful. Yet when we struggle, when we fail, God promises redemption and hope. Thanks be to God for the good shepherd who encourages us and moves us forward in faith.
Prayer
God our shepherd, we confess that we often fail in our efforts to be faithful to you and serve your people. Thank you for both challenging us to serve as well as attending to us not with the punishment we deserve but with grace and mercy. All this we ask through your righteous branch, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.