884.htm

(Cont. from Page 883B).

884.

"TAKE YET FOR YOURSELF THE IMPLEMENTS
OF A USELESS SHEPHERD". (Zechariah 11:15).

WHAT ARE THESE IMPLEMENTS?
What a strange command or was it? Reading Zechariah chapter 11 one is helped to understand the feelings dominant in the hearts and minds of "valueless shepherds". In verses 4 and 5 their attitude is revealed, for they say: ""May Jehovah be blessed, while I shall gain riches." And their own shepherds do not show any compassion upon them." (11:4).

The seriousness of the above offence lay in its easy acceptance by the people and the heartlessness of these "shepherds" of the "flock" of God whose purpose in "selling them" is for them to be "killed". But God intervenes by giving instructions to "shepherd the flock meant for the killing". (11:7). While mass murder by these "valueless shepherds" is certainly punishable by their own deaths, they are not punished immediately, for it says: "the buyers of which proceed to kill them although they are not held guilty." (11:5). The majority of this "flock" have been bought with bribes. (Dan 11:39. Isaiah 5:23).

Consequently, Jehovah has said: "Woe to My valueless shepherd, who is leaving the flock!" (Zech 11:17). "So here I am causing mankind to find themselves, each one in the hand of his companion… and they will certainly crush to pieces the land, and I shall do no delivering out of their hand." (11:6). Initially, God used pleasantness and unity (symbolised by two staffs) to shepherd the afflicted ones of the flock, but "valueless shepherds" and their "flock meant for the killing" "felt a loathing" toward Jehovah. (11:8). So God broke the staffs of Pleasantness and Union "in order to break My covenant that I had concluded with all the peoples… and the afflicted ones of the flock who were watching Me got to know in this way that it was the Word of Jehovah." (11:10,11). Effacing three of these valueless "shepherds" in one lunar month, and losing Pleasantness (favour) and Union (unity) with God, are not events that true members of the "flock" of His spiritual "land" would fail to know.

THE "VALUELESS" AND THE "USELESS" SHEPHERDS.
The "valueless shepherds" and those of their "flock" valued the majesty of God at a mere thirty pieces of silver. (11:17,13) those "meant for the killing". Jehovah appointed Zechariah His servant to act as an example of a "useless shepherd", saying: "Take yet for yourself the implements ("equipment". Moffatt) of a useless shepherd. For here I am letting a shepherd rise up in the land." (11:15,16). This "shepherd" of God will not give attention to the one being effaced (destroyed), nor seek the young one, nor "heal" the broken one, nor supply them with spiritual "food". But the "flesh" of the fat one he will "eat" and their "hoofs" he will "tear off". (11:16). As for the "valueless shepherds", they lose their power of spiritual insight and "arm" of authority. (See Pages 883A, 883B and 824C).

TODAY THE "IMPLEMENTS" OF A
"USELESS SHEPHERD" ARE DENUNCIATORY.
On reading Revelation 10:8-11, you should realise that the "implements" of a "useless" shepherd today are bitter denunciations of God concerning "peoples and nations and tongues and many kings" and forming part of the legal case of God over Zion. (Micah 6:1-15. Isaiah 34:8. 13:5).

Zechariah was raised to become a "useless" shepherd to a disobedient "flock", the members of which loathed God. Jehovah would certainly not allow Zechariah to tear off the "hoofs" of obedient "sheep". He did however allow him to consume the flesh of the "fat one". This "useless" shepherd was used in such a way as to reveal and refine out valueless ones. The work of denouncing rebelliousness is not a gathering work, and eats away the "flesh" of the "fat" rich ones. Although sarcastically referred to as "useless" shepherds because they prophesy the vengeance of our God, those doing the work of a "useless shepherd" today are spiritually obedient servants of God. So there came to be two kinds of shepherds: Those that shepherded for self-interest (valueless ones), and the one God raised up to have them, and the people they shepherded, killed. You see, as to those who only shepherded for self-interest, God is not "forming the spirit" of such a man "inside him." (Zech 12:1).

7/10/82.