Scripture

“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,” declares the Sovereign Lord.

Observation
The Lord will remove the false shepherds who have fed themselves on His sheep. The Lord Himself will be their shepherd. He will gather the sheep from all around the world and bring them back to Israel. He will give them rich pasture and search for the lost.

The Lord will judge His own sheep. The sheep who have pushed themselves forward to get the best feed will be judged. The Lord will rescue the flock, but He will also judge them.

Application
God declares that He is the true shepherd for His people, a metaphor that Jesus also uses. The Lord promises to rescue the sheep from the rulers who have oppressed them and to care for them Himself.

The rescue comes at a price- God will now judge those who push themselves past others to get the best stuff, and those who drive away by force those who are weaker.

Followers of Jesus cannot be self-centred or self-promoting. We must not pursue our own interests at the expense of other people.

Selfishness is an entirely natural human trait. And God promises that it will bring His judgement. The good news is that He also has the capacity to change our heart’s from self to Him and thence to others.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive my selfish ways. Open my eyes so that I can see my sin and give me grace to repent. Amen.