When sheep stray from the flock, their best form of protection, they become easy prey for predators. 1 Peter 5:8 admonishes us to be alert and vigilant because our adversary the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. When the lion roars, it causes panic in the flock. The ones that separate from the flock are the ones that get chased down.
God's people have similar characteristics. The devil will use any tactic to cause us to be weak and ineffective in our walk with God. Mankind also has a tendency to follow a charismatic leader, not necessarily of proven character.
Judging on the outward appearance rather than on the heart (1 Sam.16:7). 2 Cor. 11:14 warns us that Satan will masquerade as an angel of light. The passage in Jeremiah 23 explains how the shepherds of God's people had failed them, even worse, abused them.
There is a parallel of what is happening today when pastors rely more on marketing techniques rather than stay true to the gospel. Jeremiah prophesied that out of the line of David, a true, righteous shepherd will be raised up.
Psalm 23 tells us that the Lord Himself is our shepherd. In Mark 6:34, we are told that Jesus saw the need of the people, that they were like sheep without a shepherd and had compassion on them. It is His compassion for us that led Him to lay down His life for us and to be our righteousness.
-With the original fall of man came the loss of our righteous nature and our legal stance as righteous in the sight of God. Man sinned, therefore no longer innocent of transgression and lost the ability to keep God's commands. Our original character for uprightness was completely wrecked.
Mankind, including God's people, have a tendency to go their own stubborn way and try to cover, hide or excuse their sin rather than admit to sin and ask forgiveness.
Psalm 32:1-5; “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
Because of Jesus' sacrifice, the blood of Jesus restores the standing of righteousness in the sight of God. He also gives a new spirit that gives us the ability and strength to obey His commands. We are not flawless in this, but like sheep, need a caring shepherd to protect us and prevent us from going astray.
It is only as we are under the protection of Jesus, the Lord our Righteousness, can we dwell in safety.
The passage in Revelation 3:20; “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” is often mistakenly only used when sharing the gospel. In reality, the church of Laodicea was being rebuked for its lukewarmness and is being called to repentance, to return to her first love.
Jesus still knocks and wants to abide in His church, (Ephesians 3:17-19) “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Romans 8:10; “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”
Galatians 2:20; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
2 Corinthians 5:21; "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus came out of fulfillment to the prophecy that, out of the line of David, a King would be raised up “who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” How will we know Him, He will be called, Yahweh Tsehdek or Tsidkenu, the LORD our Righteousness.
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