Zechariah 10 & 11: Shepherd of the Doomed

Zechariah gives a stark image of this faithlessness. He tells of shepherds who value God's people so little that their worth is calculated at a mere thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave gored by an ox. This paltry sum, their shepherd's wages, is then contemptuously thrown into the house of the Lord. It is a chilling prophecy of betrayal, revealing the heart of worthless leaders and pointing ahead to the one Good Shepherd who would be sold for this very price. The Rev. Andrew Preus, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Haven, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Zechariah 10 and 11. To learn more about Trinity Lutheran, visit trinitynewhaven.com.The Persian king Cyrus issues an astonishing decree: the exiles may go home. Among them are the Jews—God’s chosen people—whom this pagan ruler not only repatriates, but commands to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Ezra 1–4 tells of their return, the joy of restored worship, and the crushing opposition that brings construction to a standstill. Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah speak with God’s authority, calling His people to courage, repentance, and hope. In Ezra 5–8 the temple is completed, worship flourishes, and hearts are renewed in God’s Word. This series on Thy Strong Word follows the events in the order they happened, revealing how the Lord moves kings and prophets, overcomes opposition, and restores His people.Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.