Today’s passage: Zechariah 11
Helpful thoughts:
- This chapter prophesies the Jews’ rejection of Messiah and God’s leaving them to their own destruction, even allowing an evil shepherd to come and treat them harshly (Antichrist). The initial judgment expressed appears to be their defeat to the Romans in A.D. 70.
- The covenant which was broken was that of Deuteronomy 28:1-14. This was a conditional covenant. Israel did not obey and God discontinued His protection and blessing.
- In verse 12, the shepherd asks what he is worth. The response of the Jews was 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 27:3-10).
Questions to consider:
- Shepherds used a rod to ward off predators and protect their sheep. They used their staff to guide and direct the sheep and keep them together. How might these uses help us to better understand the illustrations of the two staffs being broken in two? Why would the rod and staff bring us comfort in light of these typical uses (Psalm 23)?
- When God’s chosen nation (Israel) rejected the Lord, what happened to her unity (Verse 14)? What should we then expect will be that which keeps us united as a church?
- What will become of the worthless shepherd? Will he succeed in his evil work? Even in this sad prophecy about the future of Israel, what hope remains in the end?