Zechariah 11:7-11
7 So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter, therefore also the afflicted of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor, and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock.
8 Then I did away with the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them, and their soul also was tired of me.
9 Then I said, “I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to perish, let it perish; and let those who are left eat one another’s flesh.”
10 And I took my staff Favor and cut it in pieces, to break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.
11 So it was broken on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the Lord.
The Rejection of the True Shepherd (3)
Zechariah fulfills his mission
In the previous passage, Zechariah was given the mission, “Pasture the flock doomed to slaughter.” In today’s passage, Zechariah begins to carry out that mission. “So I pastured the flock doomed to slaughter, therefore also the afflicted of the flock. And I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Favor, and the other I called Union; so I pastured the flock” (v 7). (1) It says, “therefore also the afflicted of the flock.” The meaning of this is that Zechariah would minister to the whole people of Israel, but especially shepherd “the afflicted sheep” among them. “The afflicted sheep” refers to the remnant of Israel (the true believers). (2) He took two staffs and named them “Favor” and “Union.” “Favor” represents God’s protection, and “Union” represents the unity of the people. “Then I did away with the three shepherds in one month, for my soul was impatient with them…” (v 8-9). (1) At a certain point, Zechariah stops shepherding the sheep. This action takes place after he has fulfilled his mission. (2) The reason is that the three shepherds rebelled against Zechariah. (3) In verse 10, Zechariah breaks the staff called Favor. This is done to revoke the promise of protecting the people of Israel from the attacks of the Gentile nations (ref. Luke 19:41-44). (4) However, the remnant of Israel understood that Zechariah was speaking the word of the Lord, and they believed it (v 11).
The ministry of the Christ
Zechariah is a type of Christ. (1) The three shepherds who rebelled against Zechariah represent the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the scribes. (2) The event in which the leaders of Israel publicly rejected the Messiah is recorded in Matt. 12:22-45 (the Beelzebul controversy). (3) The remnant of Israel who believed the teaching of Jesus (Messianic Jews) fled from Jerusalem to Pella (east of the Jordan River) when the Roman siege began (ref. Luke 21:20-21). (4) When Jerusalem was destroyed, 1.1 million Jews died, yet among the Messianic Jews there was not a single death or slave taken. The Messiah sought to lead His people in the way of safety, but they rejected it. As a result, they became a people scattered throughout the world. Let us learn a lesson from this. We must not treat the grace of God lightly.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jeus Christ, thank You for Your protection and encouragement. Please continue to protect and guide me. Also, please bless Your people, Israel. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.