Yahweh Is
The Spring Of Living Waters
Jeremiah 17:13-18 reads,
17:13Yahweh,
the hope of
Good
Shepherds Guide Yahweh's People Straight To Yahweh
Revelation 7:17 states that the Lamb will be shepherd to Yahweh's people and guide them to living springs of waters. Jeremiah 17:13 shows that Yahweh himself is the spring of living waters. Therefore the Lamb will guide Yahweh's people to Yahweh!
In other words, the good shepherd, the one whose heart is after Yahweh's own heart, guides Yahweh's people, his flock, to Yahweh himself. He doesn't take them elsewhere, but straight to Yahweh! Halleluyah!
Bad
Shepherding Contrasted Against Good Shepherding
Jeremiah 23:1-8 reads,
23:1Woe
to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture,
says Yahweh. 23:2Therefore thus says
Yahweh, the God of
Bad shepherding results in the destruction and scattering of the flock. Good shepherding entails visiting the flock in their destroyed and scattered state, a visit that results in their being gathered together out of all the places of their scattering and being brought back to their own pasture and folds. Therein the flock is appropriately fed and watched over, and therein the flock become fruitful and multiplies, in comfort and assurance of safety.
Yahweh
Will Gather His Scattered Flock -
Jeremiah 31:10-14 reads,
31:10Hear
the word of Yahweh, you nations, and declare it in the isles afar off; and say,
He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does
his flock. 31:11For Yahweh has
ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
31:12They shall come and sing in the
height of
Yahweh's
People Suffer On Account Of Bad Shepherding
Jeremiah 50:4-7 reads,
50:4In
those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the children of
Shepherds should undertake their duties in the manner they should. For when they don't, when they don't abide by Yahweh's word, Yahweh's flock suffers greatly, being devoured by their enemies.
Yahweh's
Words Of Woe To Bad Shepherds
Ezekiel 34 reads,
34:1The
word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 34:2Son
of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and tell them,
even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the shepherds of
Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? 34:3You eat the fat, and you clothe you with
the wool, you kill the fatlings; but you don’t feed the sheep. 34:4You haven’t strengthened the diseased,
neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that
which was broken, neither have you brought back that which was driven away,
neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have
you ruled over them. 34:5They were
scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the
animals of the field, and were scattered. 34:6My
sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill: yes, my sheep
were scattered on all the surface of the earth; and there was none who searched
or sought. 34:7Therefore, you
shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: 34:8As
I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely because my sheep became a prey, and my
sheep became food to all the animals of the field, because there was no
shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the shepherds fed
themselves, and didn’t fed my sheep; 34:9therefore,
you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: 34:10Thus
says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my
sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither
shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; and I will deliver my sheep from
their mouth, that they may not be food for them. 34:11For
thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep,
and will seek them out. 34:12As a
shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are
scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of
all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 34:13I will bring them out from the peoples,
and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land;
and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in
all the inhabited places of the country. 34:14I
will feed them with good pasture; and on the mountains of the height of Israel
shall their fold be: there shall they lie down in a good fold; and on fat
pasture shall they feed on the mountains of Israel. 34:15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,
and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord Yahweh. 34:16I will seek that which was lost, and will
bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken,
and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will
destroy; I will feed them in justice.
34:17As
for you, O my flock, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I judge between sheep
and sheep, the rams and the male goats. 34:18Seems it a small thing to you to have fed on the good
pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture?
And to have drunk of the clear waters, but you must foul the residue with your
feet? 34:19As for my sheep, they eat
that which you have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which you have
fouled with your feet. 34:20Therefore
thus says the Lord Yahweh to them: Behold, I, even I, will judge between the
fat sheep and the lean sheep. 34:21Because
you thrust with side and with shoulder, and push all the diseased with your
horns, until you have scattered them abroad; 34:22therefore
will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge
between sheep and sheep. 34:23I will
set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David;
he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 34:24I, Yahweh, will be their God, and my
servant David prince among them; I, Yahweh, have spoken it.
34:25I
will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil animals to cease
out of the land; and they shall dwell securely in the wilderness, and sleep in
the woods. 34:26I will make them and
the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come
down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing. 34:27The tree of the field shall yield its
fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in
their land; and they shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have broken the bars of
their yoke, and have delivered them out of the hand of those who made slaves of
them. 34:28They shall no more be a
prey to the nations, neither shall the animals of the earth devour them; but
they shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. 34:29I will raise up to them a plantation for
renown, and they shall be no more consumed with famine in the land, neither
bear the shame of the nations any more. 34:30They
shall know that I, Yahweh, their God am with them, and that they, the house of
Israel, are my people, says the Lord Yahweh. 34:31You
my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, says the Lord
Yahweh.
Yahweh
Distinguishes Between Bad And Good Shepherding
Yahweh shows the traits of both good shepherding and bad shepherding.
Bad shepherds feed themselves, rather than feed the sheep they are supposed to be shepherding. They provide for their needs out of the resources taken from the flock, yet they don't provide for the needs of the flock. They rule over the flock with force and rigour, rather than gently. As a result the flock are scattered and become a prey for their enemies! As a result Yahweh will remove these shepherds from their ruling offices and replace them with himself - the True and Caring Shepherd.
Good shepherds, on the other hand, provide for the needs of the sheep. They feed the sheep. They strengthen the diseased. They heal the sick. They bind up the broken. They bring back those driven away. They search for and seek the lost. They rule over the flock with gentleness, not with force and rigour.
Some
Enemies Of Yahweh's People Arise From Yahweh's People
It should also be noted that among the enemies of Yahweh's flock are some of Yahweh's flock - the strong among them. For these not only do not care about the welfare of their fellow sheep, but also act to make life difficult for their fellow sheep. In other words they are devoid of love for their brethren.
How
Yahweh And David Will Shepherd Israel In Future
Ezekiel 37:15-28 reads,
37:15The
word of Yahweh came again to me, saying, 37:16You,
son of man, take one stick, and write on it, For Judah, and for the children of
Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write on it, For Joseph, the
stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 37:17and join them for you one to another into
one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 37:18When
the children of your people shall speak to you, saying, Will you not show us
what you mean by these? 37:19tell
them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which
is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will
put them with it, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and
they shall be one in my hand. 37:20The
sticks whereon you write shall be in your hand before their eyes. 37:21Say to them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh:
Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, where they
are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own
land: 37:22and I will make them one
nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to
them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided
into two kingdoms any more at all; 37:23neither
shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their
detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them
out of all their dwelling-places, in which they have sinned, and will cleanse
them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 37:24My servant David shall be king over them;
and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my ordinances,
and observe my statutes, and do them. 37:25They
shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your
fathers lived; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and
their children’s children, forever: and David my servant shall be their prince
for ever. 37:26Moreover I will
make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with
them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in
the midst of them forevermore. 37:27My
tent also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. 37:28The nations shall know
that I am Yahweh who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst
of them forevermore.
Good
Shepherds Risk Their Lives To Save Their Flock
Amos 3:12 reads,
3:12Thus
says Yahweh:
"As the shepherd rescues out of the
mouth of the lion two legs,
Or a piece of an ear,
So shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of
a couch,
And on the silken cushions of a bed."
A good shepherd, even as David the son of Jesse was, risks his own life in order to save his flock out of the hands or mouths of predators.
Yahweh
Will Gather And Assemble The Remnant Of Israel
Micah 2:12-13 reads,
2:12I
will surely assemble, Jacob, all of you;
I will surely gather the remnant of Israel;
I will put them together as the sheep of
Bozrah,
As a flock in the midst of their pasture;
They will throng with people.
2:13He
who breaks open the way goes up before them.
They break through the gate, and go out.
And their king passes on before them,
With Yahweh at their head."
The
Future Ruler In Israel Will Shepherd In The Strength Of Yahweh
Micah 5:2-6 reads,
5:2But
you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Being small among the clans of Judah,
Out of you one will come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
5:3Therefore
he will abandon them until the time that she who is in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Israel.
5:4He
shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of Yahweh,
In the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God:
And they will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth.
5:5He
will be our peace when Assyria invades our land,
And when he marches through our fortresses,
Then we will raise against him seven shepherds,
And eight leaders of men.
5:6They
will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,
And the land of Nimrod in its gates.
He will deliver us from the Assyrian,
When he invades our land,
And when he marches within our border.
The future shepherd of Israel, the future ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting, will indeed deliver Israel from the hands of their oppressors, and give them peace and security in his rule. He will appoint leaders under his authority who will rule the nations of Israel's enemies, and ensure that these remain in their own place.
Israel's
Future Shepherd Will Show Compassion On Her By Forgiving Her Sins
Micah 7:14-20 reads,
7:14Shepherd
your people with your staff,
The flock of your heritage,
Who dwell by themselves in a forest,
In the midst of fertile pasture land, let them feed;
In Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
7:15"As
in the days of your coming forth out of the land of Egypt,
I will show them marvelous things."
7:16The
nations will see and be ashamed of all their might.
They will lay their hand on their mouth.
Their ears will be deaf.
7:17They
will lick the dust like a serpent.
Like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their dens.
They will come with fear to Yahweh our God,
And will be afraid because of you.
7:18Who
is a God like you, who pardons iniquity,
And passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage?
He doesn’t retain his anger forever,
Because he delights in lovingkindness.
7:19He
will again have compassion on us.
He will tread our iniquities under foot;
And you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
7:20You
will give truth to Jacob,
and mercy to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
The works of the future Shepherd of Israel for Israel include not only deliverance from enemy nations, but also deliverance from sin through compassion and forgiveness of sins. He will also teach them truth, in addition to the mercy he shall show them.
Idolatrous
And Sinful Shepherds Cause Yahweh's People To Suffer
Zechariah 10:1-6 reads,
10:1Ask
of Yahweh rain in the spring time,
Yahweh who makes storm clouds,
And he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
10:2For
the teraphim have spoken vanity,
and the diviners have seen a lie;
And they have told false dreams.
They comfort in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep.
They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
10:3My
anger is kindled against the shepherds,
And I will punish the male goats;
For Yahweh of Hosts has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
And will make them as his horse in the battle that he is proud of.
10:4From
him will come forth the corner-stone,
From him the nail,
From him the battle bow,
From him every ruler together.
10:5They shall be as mighty men,
Treading down muddy streets in the battle;
And they shall fight, because Yahweh is with them;
And the riders on horses will be confounded.
10:6"I
will strengthen the house of Judah,
And I will save the house of Joseph,
And I will bring them back;
For I have mercy on them;
And they will be as though I had not cast them off:
For I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.
Shepherds who partake of divination and idolatry, consulting teraphim and false dreams, cause Yahweh's people to suffer under the hands of their oppressors. For they cause Yahweh's people to trust in what they should not trust in, resulting in their shame and suffering. Good shepherds lead Yahweh's people only according to Yahweh's word. They cause Yahweh's people to know Yahweh's words and understand them. They cause Yahweh's people to walk in Yahweh's word and to trust in Yahweh. This results in their security, even in the face of threatening oppressors, for Yahweh their Mighty One indeed delivers them from the hands of all oppressors.
Zechariah 11:15-17 reads,
11:15Yahweh
said to me, "Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
11:16For, behold, I will raise up a
shepherd in the land, who will not visit those who are cut off, neither will
seek those who are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that
which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat sheep, and will tear their
hoofs in pieces. 11:17Woe to the
worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on
his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be
totally blinded!"
Yahweh's
Prophecy Against His Shepherd Close To Him
Zechariah 13:7 reads,
13:7"Awake,
sword, against my shepherd,
And against the man who is close to me," says Yahweh of Hosts.
Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be
scattered;
And I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Yahweh's prophecy concerning his shepherd - Yah'shuah his Anointed One.
Yah'shuah
Is Shepherd And Overseer Of His People
1 Peter 2:18-25 reads,
2:18Servants,
be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the wicked. 2:19For
it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of
conscience toward God. 2:20For what
glory is it, if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you
do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. 2:21For to this were you called, because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps,
2:22who did not sin, "neither
was deceit found in his mouth." 2:23Who,
when he was reviled, didn’t revile back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but
committed himself to him who judges righteously; 2:24who
his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to
sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. 2:25For you were going astray like sheep; but
are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer
of your souls.
Yah'shuah the Christ is indeed the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
Elders In
Yah'shuah's Assembly Are The Shepherds Of His Flock
1 Peter 5:1-5 reads,
5:1I
exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be
revealed. 5:2Shepherd the flock
of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but
voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; 5:3neither as lording it over the charge
allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. 5:4When the chief Shepherd will be revealed,
you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away. 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to
the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject
yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to
the humble."
False
Prophets Are Enemies Of Yah'shuah's Sheep
Matthew 7:15-23 reads,
7:15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 7:16By their fruits you will know
them. Do you gather grapes from
thorns, or figs from thistles? 7:17Even so, every good tree brings forth good fruit; but the
corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. 7:18A good tree can’t bring forth evil fruit, neither can a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 7:19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and
thrown into the fire. 7:20Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. 7:21Not everyone who
says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who
does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 7:22Many will tell me
in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy by your name, by your name cast
out demons, and by your name do many mighty works?’ 7:23Then I will tell
them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
False prophets present themselves as Yahweh's people. But their purpose is destroy, scatter and feed upon Yahweh's people. They do not manifest the love for Yahweh's people that Yahweh's true people manifest, but they care only for their own interests, thereby manifesting their selfishness.
It should also be noted that the test of a true prophet is not the performance of mighty signs and wonders and prophesying in Yah'shuah's name. For false prophets do such things. What distinguishes true and false prophets is that the true abide in righteousness while the false abide in iniquity.
The Works
Of Yah'shuah's Appointed Shepherds Among His Sheep
Matthew 10 reads,
10:1He
called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits,
to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. 10:2Now the names of the twelve apostles are
these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the
son of Zebedee; John, his brother; 10:3Philip;
Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew, the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; and
Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 10:4Simon
the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
10:5Jesus
sent these twelve out, and charged them, saying, "Don’t
go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. 10:6Rather, go to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel. 10:7As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand!’ 10:8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons.
Freely you received, so freely give. 10:9Don’t take any
gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts. 10:10Take no bag for
your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is
worthy of his food. 10:11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it
is worthy; and stay there until you go on. 10:12As you enter into the household, greet it. 10:13If the household
is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace
return to you. 10:14Whoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go
out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet. 10:15Most assuredly I
tell you, It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the
day of judgment than for that city.
10:16"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 10:17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their
synagogues they will scourge you. 10:18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for
my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 10:19But when they
deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given
you in that hour what you will say. 10:20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father
who speaks in you.
10:21"Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the
father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be
put to death. 10:22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures
to the end, the same will be saved. 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next,
for most assuredly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of
Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
10:24"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant
above his lord. 10:25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher,
and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house
Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 10:26Therefore don’t be
afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and
hidden that will not be known. 10:27What I tell you in
the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear,
proclaim on the housetops. 10:28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able
to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in
Gehenna.
10:29"Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your
Father’s will, 10:30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 10:31Therefore don’t be
afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 10:32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will
also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 10:33But whoever denies
me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
10:34"Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I
didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 10:35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a
daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 10:36A man’s foes will
be those of his own household. 10:37He who loves
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or
daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 10:38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t
worthy of me. 10:39He who finds his life will lose it; and he who loses his life
for my sake will find it. 10:40He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me
receives him who sent me. 10:41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will
receive a prophet’s reward: and he who receives a righteous man in the name of
a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 10:42Whoever gives one
of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a
disciple, most assuredly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward."
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