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"Feed the flock for slaughter"

Text: Zechariah 11:4

UNFAITHFUL SHEPHERDS

Faithful shepherds are always difficult to find. On the other hand, unfaithful shepherds seem to appear in every generation.

“Thus says the LORD my God, ‘Feed the flock for slaughter,
whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say,
“Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich”;
and their shepherds do not pity them.'”
Zechariah 11:4-5

1. “Thus says the LORD my God”

a) This word may be preached by Zechariah.

b) But the source was from the LORD God.

2. “Feed the flock for slaughter”

a) The citizens of the country were called “the flock”.

b) The leaders were the ones who were feeding the flock.

c) But the leaders were feeding the flock for the wrong reasons.

i) The citizens were like sheep to be slaughtered.

ii) This was an indictment against the shepherds (leaders).

3. The owners

a) Another term to describe the shepherds.

b) They saw themselves as “owners” of the flock.

c) They felt no guilt at all when they sold or slaughtered the flock.

d) They were pitiless when they took advantage of their countrymen.

4. “Blessed be the LORD”

a) They had the audacity to use the Lord’s name in vain.

b) They became wealthy as they made use of their citizens.

c) They even said that the LORD had blessed them with wealth!