Sheep for the Slaughter
Intro
This chapter is an expression of grief over the judgment that will come upon both faithless shepherds and faithless sheep. These kinds of prophecies are designed to wake up the sleeping masses to repentance.
I. THE JUDGMENT FIRES ARE BURNING
A. Trees literal? Of figurative of political leaders or empires (Isa. 2:12-13; 10:33-34; Ezek. 31:3-18; Dan. 4:20-23)?
B. The fires of judgment.
II. THE SHEEP AND THEIR SHEPHERDS (vv. 4-14).
A. The bad shepherds who profit off their sheep (v. 5).
B. Zechariah the good shepherd (vv. 4, 7-14).
1) The staff called FAVOR.
a) Annihilation of the three shepherds (v. 8). 50 views!
b) The sheep don’t want a righteous shepherd over them (v. 9).
c) The wages of 30 shekels of silver (vv. 12-13) –
2) The staff called UNION.
- The sheep doomed to slaughter (v. 9).
III. ZECHARIAH PLAYS ROLE OF A FOOLISH SHEPHERD (vv. 15-17).
A. Zechariah’s costume (v. 15).
B. Woe to the sheep (v. 16).
- not care for the perishing,
- nor seek the scattered (Hebrew has “young”)
- not heal the broken
- not sustain (feed) the one standing but instead will devour their flesh and even violently tear off their hoofs.
C. Woe to the shepherd (v. 17). A sword on his arm and in his eye. Rendered unable to function.
Lessons:
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