Zechariah 10-11

What’s Happening?

God’s leaders are meant to provide for and protect God’s people like a shepherd guides his sheep. But Zechariah expects Israel’s shepherds to become increasingly corrupt. They will progressively abandon their responsibilities and take advantage of God’s flock. And soon God’s people will become like hungry sheep wandering in a desert (Zechariah 10:2). 

Angry at the predatory leadership of Israel’s shepherds, God promises to provide a new leader (Zechariah 10:3). A new shepherd from the royal lineage of Judah and Joseph will rise and do battle with the corrupt shepherds of Israel. And in compassion, this good shepherd will care for God’s scattered flock and gather them into a new kingdom (Zechariah 10:4-7). The corrupt shepherds of Israel should weep and wail because their end is inevitable (Zechariah 11:1-3).

Soon, God will no longer have pity on either the leaders of Israel or the people who support their unjust regime (Zechariah 11:5-6). As a symbol of this coming reality, the next phases of Zechariah’s life become prophetic. God tells Zechariah to take a position of leadership alongside Israel’s corrupt shepherds (Zechariah 11:4). While leading, Zechariah always holds two shepherd’s staffs in his hands. He names them Union and Favor (Zechariah 11:7b). In the first month of his leadership he successfully deposes three corrupt shepherds, but he’s resented for it (Zechariah 11:8). So Zechariah breaks the staff named Favor. It’s a symbol that God will not grace Israel with his good leadership any longer (Zechariah 11:10-11). Instead, God will let their predatory practices lead them to eat and devour each other (Zechariah 11:9). To quiet Zechariah, the corrupt shepherds pay him 30 pieces of silver. Zechariah refuses to be silenced and instead breaks the staff named Union (Zechariah 11:12-13). Israel’s shepherds could have united God’s people, but now they are cursed with violence, civil war, and division (Zechariah 11:14).

Then, in a final enacted prophecy, Zechariah picks up the tool of a corrupt shepherd (Zechariah 11:15). It symbolizes that from now on, Israel will be led by leaders with crooked staffs who will ignore the oppressed and take advantage of God’s flock (Zechariah 11:16-17).

Where is the Gospel?

Like God and like Zechariah, Jesus is a good shepherd (John 10:11). From the royal lineage of Judah and Joseph, he risks his life to do battle with corrupt shepherds who refuse to protect and provide for the oppressed (Mark 3:1-6). In compassion, he feeds, heals, and offers good news to the hungry, the scattered, and the poor (Matthew 9:36). Jesus is the good shepherd that Zechariah prophesied would come. 

But good shepherds don’t just care for the weakest of the flock; they also depose crooked shepherds. Jesus said the leaders who rose up after Zechariah were all corrupt (John 10:8). They were a den of thieves who plotted to steal, kill, and destroy those they were commissioned to protect (John 10:10a). They abdicated their duties and let their sheep be harmed by forces they should have protected them from (John 10:12).

That is why Jesus turns over their tables in the temple. It was a deposing of Israel’s leadership and a rejection of their predatory religious establishment. On that day in the temple Jesus broke God’s favor towards their temple and promised it would be replaced in three days (Matthew 27:63; John 2:19). But as with Zechariah, Jesus' message was quieted with 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). Shepherds with crooked staffs murdered and buried him. 

But three days later, our Good Shepherd rose from the dead. Jesus now sits on a throne above every throne and religious power (Mark 16:19). He will show no tolerance for leaders and lackeys who use God’s place of worship to oppress his sheep. And any who use his name to satisfy their desires will be deposed because Jesus is the Good Shepherd of the oppressed. If you are hurt by your church, cry out to Jesus. He is willing and able to remove those from power who hurt you. And if you are a leader of God’s people, follow the example of your Good Shepherd. Protect and provide for God’s flock because he cares deeply for them. 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who is a good shepherd. And may you see Jesus as the one who protects his flock, even at the cost of his life.