Zechariah 11

“This illustrates how I will give this nation a shepherd who will not care for those who are dying, nor look after the young, nor heal the injured, nor feed the healthy. Instead, this shepherd will eat the meat of the fattest sheep and tear off their hooves.” Zechariah 11:16 NLT

Here shows the future misery in following a foolish shepherd. Instead of protecting and preventing them from danger, this foolish shepherd oppresses them and completes their ruin. But what is important to realize, is that this ruin of the Jews, follows their rejection of the Good Shepherd.

It is like this in our own lives. When we reject the Lord and choose to follow our sinful desires, it too leads to our ruin. Just as one plants a seed to draw people towards Christ, our sinful nature plants seeds that draw ourselves away from Him. It is a slow and gradual fade, but when we give in to temptation, sin is born, and the grip of addiction begins to set. It is then, within the stronghold of addiction, that we become a prisoner to it.

The Apostle Paul encourages the church (and us today) with these words: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 NIV

The prophecy foretold in this chapter was a warning so that when it came to pass, the Jews would not be offended. But the message in this chapter is not just for that time and only for the Jews, it is current for us today as well. The reality is, we will either walk in a way that gratifies our sinful nature, or it will please the Holy Spirit; for we can not do both at the same time. May we take to heart and apply to our lives Paul’s words that he gave to the churches of Galatia.