Compassionate Shepherds – July 24, 2024

WELS - Daily Devotions

“I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”
Jeremiah 23:4-6

Compassionate Shepherds

Daily Devotion – July 24, 2024

Devotion based on Jeremiah 23:4-6
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20240724dev.mp3
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The people of Judah had a leadership problem. The line of kings had failed them. For the most part, these kings led their people astray through idol worship, not listening to God’s prophets, and moral corruption. Instead of shepherding their people to safety and green pastures, they led them to their doom.

That line of kings would end with one named Zedekiah, a name that means “the Lord is righteous.” However, Zedekiah never lived up to that name. He would be the last descendant of the great King David to sit on Israel’s throne. Those kings had failed. So God himself would step in to be their Shepherd King.

And the name of this new King? The Lord Our Righteous Savior. This King would live up to his name. He is none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus is our righteousness because he did everything right in our place. He fulfilled God’s law perfectly for us. Jesus is our Savior because he took the punishment our sins deserved and saved us from eternal death. He is the King, greater than David, and rules eternally.

As our ultimate Shepherd King, Jesus places shepherds into our lives to care for our spiritual needs. Pastors lead us to the green pastures of God’s Word. They calm our fears with the promises found in the gospel, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life with Jesus. Pastors come looking for us when we go astray, calling us back to the Lord. They know their job isn’t about them, but about the Lord Our Righteous Savior.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to be my Shepherd King and for giving me your righteousness so that I can stand before God. And thank you for compassionate pastors who point me to you. Amen.

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