Scattered Sheep

Lent

Week 3 — Scattered Sheep  

7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is my associate, declares the Lord of Armies. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. 8 This will take place in the whole land, declares the Lord: Two thirds of those who remain in it will be cut off and perish, but one third will be left in it. 9 I will put that third into the fire, and I will refine them as silver is refined, and I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, “This is my people.” And they will say, “The Lord is my God.” (Zec 13:7–9)

  1. The sword will _____________.

30 After they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “This night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Mt 26:30–31)
But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Mt 26:56)
2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds that this is what the Lord God says. Woe to you, shepherds of Israel, who have been shepherding for themselves. Aren’t shepherds supposed to shepherd for the benefit of the sheep? 3 You eat the fat. You wear the wool. You slaughter the fattened ones—but you do not shepherd the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak. You have not healed the sick. You have not bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays, and you have not searched for the lost. Instead you have abused them with force and with violence. (Eze 34:2–4)
This is what the LORD God says. I am against the shepherds. Watch! I will remove my flock from their hand. I will remove them from taking care of the sheep, and no longer will those shepherds take care of themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, so that they will no longer be food for them. (Eze 34:10)
23 Then I will raise up over them one shepherd, and he will tend them. My servant David will tend them, and he will be their shepherd. 24 I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be the prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken. (Eze 34:23–24)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son (Jn 3:16a)
We all have gone astray like sheep. Each of us has turned to his own way, but the LORD has charged all our guilt to him. (Is 53:6)
… that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16b)

  1. The sheep will _______________.

God is a _____________ Father, but he is also a ___________________ judge who must carry out the justice that _______________________ deserve.

Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life’” (Jn 6:68)
‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too. (Jn 15:20b)
They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who murders you will think he is offering a service to God. (Jn 16:2)
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer shame for the Name. (Ac 5:41)
31 Simon, Simon, pay attention: Satan has asked to have you all, so that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers. (Lk 22:31–32)
6 Because of this you rejoice very much, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various kinds of trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—which is more valuable than gold, which passes away even though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Pe 1:6–7)

Points to Ponder 

  1. What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
  2. Why does God command the sword to strike “my shepherd” in Zechariah 13:7? What does this reveal about God’s plan of salvation?
  3. How does Jesus apply this prophecy to himself in Matthew 26:31, and why is that important for understanding the cross?
  4. Why do the sheep scatter when the Shepherd is struck? Where do we see this same tendency in our own lives?
  5. Zechariah says two-thirds perish but one-third is preserved. What does this teach us about God’s justice and his grace?
  6. What does it mean that God refines his people “as silver” and tests them “as gold”? How are trials meant to strengthen—not destroy—faith?
  7. How does Zechariah 13:9 help us confess, even in suffering, “The Lord is my God”?

Homework: Zechariah 8