Continuing with the leadership message in chapter 11, verses 4-6, God instructs Zachariah to act the part of a good shepherd. He is to care for the oppressed people, doomed to be slaughtered and exploited by the bad shepherds. Though God cares for wayward Israel, the people are destined for judgment, for the bad shepherds do not care.
Despite the bleak perspective, Zachariah fulfills his role as a good shepherd. He takes two sticks with him, referring to one as “Favor” and the other as “Union,” representing God’s grace and the people’s unity, respectively. In his shepherding role, Zachariah removes three bad shepherds but also becomes weary of the stubborn people. He leaves them to dismantle themselves, signifying God’s rejection of these disobedient people.
Verses 10-11 depict Zachariah breaking the stick named “Favor” into pieces, symbolizing the end of God’s favor and His covenant with them. In verses 12-13, Zachariah asks for his wages and is insultingly paid only 30 pieces of silver, demonstrating how little the people value God’s leadership. As a response, Zachariah throws the 30 pieces of silver into the temple treasury.
Zachariah’s actions foreshadow Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. In Matthew 27:3-4, Judas tries to return the money, but it is harshly refused. He then throws the 30 pieces of silver into the temple treasury and goes away to hang himself.
The breaking of the second stick named “Union” in verse 14 signifies the fractured society the people desired, where greed and exploitation exist. Additionally, the breaking of the second stick also indicates the division between Judah and Israel.
Here we learn about the consequences of greed and betrayal. It demonstrates the destructive impact of prioritizing material gain over moral values, as seen in the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. We must live with integrity and prefer compassion over greed and personal gain if we desire to build and nurture a godly and moral life
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