REVERENCE FOR GOD’S PROMISES JoLynn Gower 352-2458 cell 493-6151 jgower@guardingthetruth.org

THE SIN OF THE SHEPHERDS ERROR ONE: PUTTING THEMSELVES AHEAD OF THE PEOPLE THEY WERE TO SERVE The shepherds were getting rich while the sheep were hurting Excess taxation and tribute Conscripted labor Bribery Government viewed the people as a source of wealth for government programs Leaders failed to accept that they were to serve the people

SIN OF THE SHEPHERDS part 2 ERROR TWO: THE SHEPHERDS TREATED THE PEOPLE HARSHLY The people were being ruled harshly The weak and sick weren’t being helped Medical care had become very expensive or non-existent due to the seige The rulers weren’t protecting the people and were precluding their ability to protect themselves by limiting meetings and organizational abilities

SIN OF THE SHEPHERDS part 3 ERROR THREE: THE SHEPHERDS HAD LET THE SHEEP BE SCATTERED WITHOUT GOING AFTER THEM The people of both the Northern and Southern kingdoms had been taken captive by other nations or had scattered to avoid capture Ultimately the leaders were responsible for this catastrophe Over generations, the leadership had failed the people Often, however, the people had been complicit

INTERVENTION OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Ezekiel 34:11-12 For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.” Partially fulfilled when remnant returned from Babylonian captivity Partially fulfilled in 1948 when Israel reborn Isaiah 66:20 “Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the Lord, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.”

JUDGMENT OF THE SHEEP God knows the actions and character of the sheep Ezekiel 34:17 “As for you, My flock, thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats.” Jeremiah 30:9 But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. Hosea 3:5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.

LEADERSHIP Qualities of good leadership References Diligence Prov. 12:24 Trustworthy messengers Prov. 13:17 Don’t penalize people for integrity Prov. 17:26 Listen before answering Prov. 18:13 Able to discern Prov. 18:15 Listen to both sides of the story Prov. 18:17 Able to stand up under adversity Prov. 24:10 Able to stand up under praise Prov. 27:21