Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)
Read Jeremiah 23:1-6 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 23Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Verse 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Verse 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. Verse 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. Verse 5The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Verse 6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness."
Devotion
Suggested by the readings for this week, our devotional reflections will center around the theme of the root word "REST." Today's theme is "RESToration."
The reading from Jeremiah gives hope to us sheep who may be feeling lost or abandoned. To any sheep who live in fear or are disheartened by the way their life has turned out, who feel they have been left to fend for themselves or that they don't fit in, Jeremiah’s words offer comfort and hope. The Good shepherd will "bring them back to the fold." God is there to RESTore their relationship with each other and in the family. God promises to give them the strength they need to care for each other so that they may live and prosper.
The RESToration continues as God gives a picture of peace and justice winning out over oppression. All God's children are invited to stop running away from their fears, to come and REST, to feel safe and secure in the outstretched arms of our shepherd.
Prayer
God of restoration, restore our relationship with you and bring us home to rest in your loving arms. Help us to attend to the needs of our brothers and sisters so that we all might live life abundantly in you. Amen.