Strong Shepherd, Strong Church

Zechariah is a book about restoration. Restoration comes to God's people when they remember who made them and who alone can restore them to what they were made for. Only too often, the people of God are weakened by sin and immorality. It is God alone who can redeem them and repurpose them for powerful living in the World. 

Zechariah 10:1–2 (ESV) Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field. 2 For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.

Zechariah makes a simple appeal to the people. Ask the Lord for rain when it's supposed to rain. Instead of the "household gods" the people made with their hands and bowed down to, Zechariah appeals to the nation to return to the God who is in charge of all of creation. When we abandon God, we end up as afflicted sheep, wandering in the wastelands caused by the deceptions of our world. 

The Lord always holds the leaders accountable. 
Zechariah 10:3 (ESV) “My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.

People need leadership. They need true leaders who speak truth to people. The image of a shepherd is informative of the nature of people, who tend to act like sheep, impulsively driven by foolish endeavors and in need of constant attention and protection. When the Lord steps in and cares for His flock, punishing the leaders, the people rise up and become strong, like a majestic steed in battle. 

Verse 4 contains four images of the Lord's leadership over His people as the Good Shepherd.

Zechariah 10:4 (ESV) From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler—all of them together.

We know Jesus refers to Himself as the cornerstone in quoting Psalm 118:
Psalm 118:22 (ESV) The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Isaiah describes the tent peg as coming from Judah in Isaiah 22:
Isaiah 22:23 (ESV) And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house.

Revelation reveals a mighty man on a white horse with a bow in his hand:
Revelation 6:2 (ESV) And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

Jesus is the one from whom all true and good leaders emerge. Only He can rightly guide people where they belong, and He does this through His shepherds, as a gift to the church. 

Ephesians 4:11 (ESV) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers...

The rest of Zechariah 10 describes a mighty nation, restored to their true and good purpose in God. 
Zechariah 10:5 (ESV) They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.
Zechariah 10:7 (ESV) Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.
Zechariah 10:12 (ESV) I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the LORD.

The Lord Jesus has fulfilled Zechariah 10 and established a church that is made for battle. What a picture for us to remember! Too much of Christianity is weak and ineffective because we mistake tolerance for truth and accommodation for conviction. It is as if we think the Church is simply to be "nice" in a world gone haywire. No! The Church is made to be restored men and women who fight for that which is good and noble, who stand up, speak up, and make an impact, knowing our God is FOR US, and no one can stand against us. 

When we, like Israel, put away our foolish idols and follow our Shepherd, the results are power, ability, and strength in our lives. 

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