Jeremiah 25:34-35 now brings a direct prophecy to the shepherds of Judah. By shepherds, he meant the leadership of Israel. The king., the priests, and even the prophets, especially the false ones were leading the nation to ruin. These leaders who were supposed to guide the people of God were failing them. They show examples that left much to be desired. God called on them to wail and mourn. For their day of reckoning had come. There was no escaping for them and they too would be scattered and perish together with the people they were leading.
Verses 36-38 describe what terror they would be experiencing. The Lord would be destroying the pasture i.e. the land. Shepherds would weep and wail in grief when they see their peaceful pasture being destroyed. So will the leaders of Judah wail grievously as they see their beloved Judah being invaded and devastated by the Babylonians. The Lord, in His anger, like a fierce lion had come out from His hiding place to show His anger with the people. The land would become like a place of horror when the sword of the Lord through the Babylonians falls. There would be great bewilderment and great silence would fall among the people who once thrived in the land.
People go astray when leaders fail to discharge their roles and
duties responsibly. While the Lord would deal with the followers, the fault always
lies squarely on the shoulders of the leaders. Uncompromising leaders will
always result in a positive impact on the people they are leading. On the other
hand, when leaders are weak and compromising, the followers inevitably run the risk
of leading compromising life. In civil society, the home, or in the church, strong
godly leaders are needed. If we are in any leadership capacity, let us strive to be responsible and quality leaders for the glory of God.
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