Charles Spurgeon Commentary Jeremiah 23
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Jeremiah 23
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Jeremiah 23
"Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith Jehovah." — Jeremiah 23:1 (ASV)
What a dreadful woe this is upon all false shepherds – those who profess to be sent of God to instruct the people, but who are not sent of God at all, whose labours only result in the scattering of the sheep, and destroying them, instead of gathering them to Christ for their salvation!
"Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed my people: Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith Jehovah. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply. And I will set up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, saith Jehovah." — Jeremiah 23:2-4 (ASV)
If the under-shepherds do not feed the flock, God himself will do it, for his own redeemed flock shall not be torn by wolves, nor left to perish in the lands where they are driven. That great Shepherd of the sheep will do what others fail to do; but this does not take away from them their responsibility, and it must be the most solemn responsibility that rests on mortal man to profess to be a shepherd of souls, yet not to be sent of God.
"Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land." — Jeremiah 23:5 (ASV)
We are looking for that glorious King. Oh, that he would soon come! He is the great Monarch who shall absorb all other monarchies, for he shall reign for ever and ever.
"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness." — Jeremiah 23:6 (ASV)
What a glorious name for our King, who is made of God to us righteousness. We may well rejoice to think that all the perfect righteousness of our great King and Lord shall belong to us, for this shall be his very name, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
"Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that they shall no more say, As Jehovah liveth, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, As Jehovah liveth, who brought up and who led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them. And they shall dwell in their own land." — Jeremiah 23:7-8 (ASV)
There are better times for Israel than Israel has ever known so far. The glories of Egypt and of the Red Sea are yet to be eclipsed.
And there are better times in store for the Church of God than she has seen so far.
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