ZECHARIAH 10-11 - TWO SHEPHERDS COMPARED

THE TEMPLE PLANS WERE NOW COMPLETE
SOME TIME HAD LAPSED BUT THEY FORGOT
THAT YAHWEH WAS THEIR SHEPHERD GUIDE
AND ALL THEIR NEEDS HE HAD SUPPLIED.

FALSE SHEPHERDS SOON BEGAN TO LEAD
AND OTHER GOD'S DID INTERCEDE
LIKE WONDERING SHEEP THEY WENT ASTRAY
BECAUSE THEY SOUGHT DIVINER'S WAY.

GOD'S SHEPHERD HEART WAS THEN REVEALED
THE NATURE OF HIS LOVE EXPLAINED
HIS TRUTH WOULD TRIUMPH IN THE END
SO THAT THROUGH HIM THEY COULD DEPEND.

HE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF FAITH
THE PEG THAT STABILIZES TRUTH
THE BATTLE BOW THAT CONQUERS SIN
THE PROMISE OF DECISIVE WIN.

THE WONDERING TRIBES OF ISRAEL STILL
HAVE BLINDED EYES THAT CANNOT SEE
AND YET HE LONGS TO DO HIS PART
IF THEY RETURN WITH CONTRITE HEART.

THE SHEPHERD CALLS HIS WONDERING SHEEP
FROM DISTANT SHORES BEYOND THEIR REACH
SO ALL THEIR CHILDREN COULD RETURN
AND FINALLY REACH THEIR NATIVE HOME.

THOUGH TRIBULATION TRIALS COME
LIKE SURGING WAVES OF WAR AND DEATH
THE ARM OF YAHWEH WILL ARISE
AND GRANT TO THEM THE VICTOR'S PRIZE.

BUT SAD THE STORY QUICKLY SHOWS
HOW SOON THE SUN THAT HARDENS CLAY
CAN TURN THE BLESSINGS HAVEN SENDS
TO GRANITE HEARTS THAT WON'T OBEY.

THE DOORS OF TROUBLE SOON APPEAR
LIKE FIRE DESTROYING HARVEST GRAIN
AS WAILING SHEPHERDS LOOSE THEIR FLOCK
BECAUSE THEIR IS NO LONGER RAIN.

THEN ZECHARIAH WALKED ON STAGE
TO ILLUSTRATE GOD'S ACTIVE PART
HE TOOK A SHEPHERD'S ROD AND STAFF
SO THEY COULD FEEL HIS LOVING HEART.

BUT WICKED SHEPHERDS TOOK THEIR STAND
WITH SCRIBES AND PRIEST'S DECEPTIVE PLAN
THE PRICE OF 30 COINS THEY TOSSED
BY NAILING CHRIST UPON THE CROSS.

SO WHEN THE ROMAN TROOPS ARRIVED
THE BROKEN STAFF GOD SYMBOLIZED
BECAME THE NATION'S BATTLE BLOWS
AS ANTI SEMITE HATRED SHOWS.

YET ONE LAST SHEPHERD FILLS THE STAGE
WHO LOOKS MORE LIKE A BEAST WITH RAGE
BUT WHEN MESSIAH'S KING RETURNS
THIS ARMAGEDDON SHEPHERD BURNS.
--B.PENT


THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. The Temple was completed and sacrifices were resumed but instead of seeking the Lord what do verses 1-2 whose counsel were they
following and why? What warning does that trigger for us as Christians? Explain
2. In verses 3-8, Yahweh expresses His longing to Shepherd Israel in spite of their apostasy. What are some of the promises He makes
to them and what comfort would that have been to those remaining faithful to Him?
3. Verses 9-12 tells of trouble ahead and their being scattered among the Gentile nations. Can you recall some of those times in the past
and what is yet ahead for them during the Great Tribulation?
4. Chapter 11:1-3 opens with metaphors that suggest destruction and devastation for Israel. In context it seems to point the Roman
invasion under Titus. What picture did Jesus give in Matthew 24 of Jerusalem and its Temple during that time?
5. The rest of this chapter describes the Good shepherds and the false shepherd. Can you briefly describe each shepherd and according
to verses 12-13 what they finally do to the Good Shepherd?
6. In verses 15-17, Zechariah takes a leap into the distant Tribulation period. How is the false shepherd described and how does it end?