Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 229: God's Flock and His Chosen Shepherd

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Jeremiah 23-25.

The Israelites are still in trouble. Today, God calls out the prophets and priests who do not keep His commandments, who prophesy falsely in His name.

Then, God states that He will send a new Shepherd for His flock.

Jeremiah 23:3 - "Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply."

Jeremiah 23:5-6 - "Behold, the days are coming, " declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch and He will reign as king and ac wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our righteousness.'"

So, this is where the Israelites got confused when Jesus came to earth the first time. They either ignored or didn't understand the other prophecies about Him being the Lamb (or sacrifice) and how He would be born. I think some of them are found in Isaiah. I can't remember exactly.

But from this reading, it can sound like Jesus was going to come and deliver the Israelites from their enemies and reign as a King and secure them.

Which He will do for all of us. But many people expected it the first time. Israel had been invaded by the Romans, who were taxing them mercilessly and there were rebel factions who tried to fight back. The Israelites expected Jesus to come and be a great leader who would lead them to victory over their enemies.

They just expected physical rather than spiritual victory. Jesus does give us victory. But until the time is right, He won't come and fight physically. And no one knows when that time will be except God the Father. Even Jesus doesn't know.

Spiritual victory is a lot, though. Especially when we consider that that's where the real battle is. Satan doesn't operate in the natural realm, though he may use natural means to get something done. He operates in the spiritual. Tempting us, and trying to convince us to do something that he knows will put our spiritual lives in jeopardy.

But Jesus came so that we could have victory. And when we believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God, we do have victory.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Jeremiah 26-29.