Bible Question:
Can anyone come up with a clear understanding of these verses? Jeremiah 23:1-3 1.) "(A)Woe to the shepherds who are (B)destroying and scattering the (C)sheep of My pasture!" declares the LORD. 2.) Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to (D)attend to you for the (E)evil of your deeds," declares the LORD. 3.) "Then I Myself will (F)gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. Vintage68 |
Bible Answer: "This chapter contains threatenings to the Jewish governors, and to their priests and prophets, on account of their manifold sins; intermixed with gracious promises to the Lord's people, and particularly with a famous promise of the Messiah. The pastors or governors of Israel are charged with scattering and driving away the Lord's flock, for which they are threatened, Jeremiah 23:1; and a promise is made of the gathering of the remnant of them, and of setting up other shepherds over them, under whom they should increase, and be comfortable, Jeremiah 23:3;" John Gill "Jeremiah was called to speak to the people of Jerusalem during a revival under King Josiah and continued to speak to them during that city's final fall to the Babylonians. His task was to hammer home the message that Jerusalem's fall was not due to any lack on God's part but was due entirely to Judah's unfaithfulness toward God, specifically by listening to false prophets rather than true ones (with Deut. 18:15–22 in the background). Even this horrifying disaster, however, was not the end: Jeremiah foretold a return from exile, an everlasting covenant, and a new covenant in which God's people would at last embrace the covenant in their hearts. Israel and Judah would be reunited and finally fulfill their calling to bring light to the world." ESV Study Bible Notes |