A tale of two Shepherds

Read Zechariah 11.

In his most famous song, King David wrote in Psalm 23, "The LORD is my shepherd."  A good shepherd leads and feeds his sheep.  He cares for and defends the flock against any and all who would harm them, even to the point of sacrificing his own life.  It is a common metaphor in the Bible of God's love and faithfulness to His own people.

When Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10) appeared, He was nationally rejected.  Verse 8 tells how deep the rejected would be, "They also detested me."  This echoes what Isaiah wrote of Israel's response to the Messiah in His first coming: "he was despised and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:3b).  The reference to thirty pieces of silver (the price of a slave) would be offensive to a faithful shepherd.  It is an unmistakable prophecy fulfilled by Judas' betrayal in Matthew 26:14-16.  Therefore, the Good Shepherd of the Jews will remove Himself from them as a nation for a time.  He will not provide for them nor protect them.  "I will no longer have pity" (v.6).

To illustrate the message, two named shepherd staffs are used.  Each of them is said to be broken.
1. Favor.
God's favor in verse ten refers to His "covenant" with the Gentile nations that kept them at bay and provided protection of Israel.  If God withdraws that protection, the Jews indeed would be like lambs headed for the slaughter.  The Holy Spirit had the Apostle Paul call this spiritual period as "a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." (Romans 11:25)

2. Union.
In verse fourteen, the second named staff refers to the oneness of Israel and Judah.  They divided into two kingdoms after the death of Solomon.  Experiencing the scattering of the north and the exile of the south, reuniting the two would have been a desirable goal.  But the Persian Empire controlled them. Then, the Greeks rose to power.  Finally, the Romans moved in to dominate and once again destroy Jerusalem along with the reconstructed Temple in A.D. 70.

The Jews will turn to "a foolish shepherd" (v.15).  He will do nothing but harm them for his own advantage.  Revelation 13 and the following chapters describe how God will fulfill His dealing with this false spiritual leader.  All of these will be preparing the Jews for the second coming of Messiah.

The good news is that individuals have, can and will place their faith in that One Good Shepherd who indeed gave His life for us.  While we await His return, we may cast all our "anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)