The Future Hope of Israel

James tells us not many of us should be teachers for we will be judged more strictly. Jeremiah 23 makes that very clear. God speaks to the shepherds who have abandoned their responsibilities to the sheep. 

Jeremiah 23:1–2 (ESV) “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.

The shepherds were scattering when they should have been gathering and protecting. Now who would these people be? Well, in the Old Testament, God uses the term Shepherd to refer to kings. He also uses that term in the New Testament to refer to spiritual leaders such as pastors. Pastors and civil leaders are really two sides of the leadership coin. One bears the sword to punish the evildoer and maintain peace, the other presents the Word of God and leads people to the great shepherd. Interestingly, Jesus is both King and Shepherd. 

In spite of the shepherds' failures and the scattering of the people, God promises to bring them back to the fold.

Jeremiah 23:3 (ESV) Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

Notice the result: They will "be fruitful and multiply." A call to the original order of creation. God told Adam, and generations later, He told Noah - be fruitful and multiply, fill the Earth. This is God's ultimate plan for you. He wants you to have children and see offspring in your later years fill the Earth. Now, even if you're not a natural father or mother, you can be a spiritual one. Good leadership makes that happen. Bad leadership stifles it. 

Jeremiah 23:5–6 (ESV) “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

From the shepherd metaphor to the tree metaphor, David's son will come and reign as King. He will be hung on a tree for us, saving all God's people through His sacrifice. He is our righteousness. A clearer prophecy of Christ is not to be found in the Old Testament. He will be the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. 

Now, what do sheep need? They need land. And the land God promised Israel would be restored to them after their exile. 

Jeremiah 23:7–8 (ESV) “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”

But notice where this promise is in the chapter. It comes AFTER the righteous branch. The promise is for the land of Israel to be home to God's people in the New Covenant times. What we see now is simply the blossoming fig tree Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. Its leaves are budding, and spiritual life is coming to the people. Ultimately, they have a purpose in the last days. As Jesus foretold:

Matthew 24:31 (ESV) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The hope of Israel is a hope for the Church. God does not give up on His people even when they stumble and fall. He will restore them from the harm and misguidance leaders have given them. He will bring them back. 

He can bring you back.