Friday, March 28 – Zechariah 11, 12

1. In Psalm 23, God is described as a Shepherd who cares for us. In what areas of your life can you trust Him more, instead of following your own path?

2. Jesus was rejected by the leaders of His time, yet He never stopped loving. How can we show that same love to people who may not treat us well?

3. Zechariah 12 speaks of a future when God’s people will realize their mistake and return to Him. How can we ensure that we do not reject God’s voice today?

Chapters 11 and 12 of Zechariah tell a very special story: the story of the Good Shepherd, His rejection, and the great hope He still holds for His people.

From the beginning of human history, God has revealed Himself as a faithful Shepherd who guides, protects, and provides for His people. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This image of the Good Shepherd is not just a beautiful poem but a reality repeated throughout the Bible. God has always cared for His people, leading them on paths of righteousness and showing them the way to life.

But what happens when the sheep decide to reject their Shepherd? What happens when, instead of following Him, they choose leaders who do not love or care for them? Zechariah 11 and 12 take us into a deep and moving story about the rejection of the Shepherd and the restoration of His people. These words challenge us to think about our own relationship with God today.

God had always led Israel with love, protecting them and teaching them the way of righteousness. But instead of listening, Israel often preferred to follow leaders who did not truly care for them. Zechariah 11 illustrates this with a powerful image: a shepherd with two staffs, one called “Grace” and the other “Bond”, representing God’s love and His covenant with His people. However, since the people rejected the Shepherd’s guidance, these staffs were broken, symbolizing the breaking of the covenant.

When a sheep strays from the shepherd, it puts itself in danger, just as Israel did.

When Jesus came to earth, He presented Himself as the Good Shepherd. He said in John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” However, the religious leaders of His time, instead of receiving Him with joy, rejected Him.

Isaiah 53:3 prophesied this centuries before: “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” This rejection led to one of the most astonishing prophecies in Zechariah: selling the Good Shepherd for thirty pieces of silver. In Zechariah 11:12-13, God says: “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.” This prophecy was fulfilled exactly when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for that same amount, as recorded in Matthew 26:14-16.

Zechariah 11:15-17 speaks of a foolish shepherd, someone who would not care for the sheep but would only seek his own benefit. This is a warning to all: when we turn away from God, we end up under the leadership of those who do not love or protect us. Jesus warned about this when He said “The hired hand flees when the wolf comes, because he does not care about the sheep” (John 10:12).

In Israel’s history, this was fulfilled many times. The rejection of the Messiah ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., when the Romans destroyed the city and the Temple. The people called to be a light ended up in darkness because they did not recognize their Shepherd.

But the story takes a turn here, God never completely abandons His people. He always leaves a door open for restoration.

The story of Israel reflects our own stories. Sometimes, we turn away from God, make wrong decisions, and suffer the consequences. But God never stops loving us. He always allows us to return to Him.

This means that God is still our Shepherd. He calls us daily, searches for us when we are lost, and promises that if we follow Him, we will be safe in His love. Jesus wants to guide us on the path of life. We should not wait any longer to follow Him. Today is the day we can say, “Lord, I want to be part of Your flock.” He will receive us with open arms because His love never fails, His grace never runs out, and His bond with us will never be broken if we choose to stay with Him.

The Good Shepherd is still calling us, still seeking us, and still loving us. The question is: Will we answer?