1. REVERENCE FOR GOD’S PROMISES
JoLynn Gower
cell

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. INTERVENTION OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Ezekiel 34: 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.”

6. 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.

7. 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