“The Resolution”

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-8

Jeremiah had been called to carry the Lord’s message to the people of Israel & Judah. He was told to tell them that, first, they had been given every possible reason and opportunity to love and follow the Lord their God, but they didn’t. Second, that because of their disobedience, destruction and turmoil would soon replace the goodness that God has so graciously given them over the many years of their relationship. And third, and possibly most importantly, that when their time of chaos and separation has run its course, they would be restored to their place with the Lord and there would be blessing once again.

There was another option, of course, that would circumvent the second issue – if they repented of their sinfulness, and if they returned to the way of God, they would know his love and passion once again! But that never seemed to be acceptable for the people of Jeremiah’s day, or for that matter, for many people of this day! Many won’t believe that they are doing anything that runs counter to the way of Almighty God!

How did the people of Judah, and people throughout the ages, get in such a mess? Why did they even think that false idol worship was a good idea? Why? The Lord says that it is because of the leadership of the Hebrew nation, and for us, of the Church! First, the authorities said that there was no reason that the people shouldn’t do it, and second, they even led the people in their false worship! And that is the problem with the Church of today, and with the United Methodist Church in particular – many in leadership positions have endorsed, and in some instances, has even initiated, a break from scriptural authority and Wesleyan theology, and we may very well be headed down the same path that Judah was in.

And with that, let us turn to the word of God as delivered by the prophet Jeremiah.

Read Jeremiah 23:1-2

The “shepherds” have betrayed the “sheep”! They are supposed to lead them to good pasture, but they have introduced weeds and thistles into their diet. Shepherds are supposed to protect the sheep, but instead, they have not only exposed them to danger and death, they have become the danger that is threatening their lives. Shepherds are supposed to care about the sheep, to have their welfare at heart, but the shepherds of Israel and Judah had only their own desires at heart.

That’s the problem with leadership – it has a way of making the leader forget what their prime directive is! Elected officials in all levels of government can easily forget that they are supposed to be representing the people, and have begun to think that their only purpose is to gain more influence and power, and to do whatever is necessary to get reelected! And you might think that the church understands this, but the truth is that we are just as susceptible to change in our focus as anyone is! Church leaders, both clergy and laity, must be constantly on guard against becoming enamored with the position that they hold. James 3:1 warns us that those who teach, and presumably lead, will be judged most harshly!

But we have an example for our leadership that many in the world have overlooked. In John 13:15 Jesus tells us “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” So, what kind of leader is Jesus? What is the example that he has set before us? For him, it was never about his personal glory – he left it all behind when he came to earth. For Jesus, it wasn’t about honor and power, it wasn’t about authority – it was all about the task that he had been given, and that was to pave the way to salvation for the sinners of earth. And that meant that the sinless had to take on the sinfulness of humanity. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) That is the example of a true “Shepherd” – to put the welfare of the sheep above that of his own.

Read Jeremiah 23:3-6

When the old leaders fail, put new ones in place. That is what our election system is supposed to do, but unfortunately, all too often, we just replace the old ones with new ones who are clones of the old. Change should never be symbolic – it should be complete. God tells the people that he is about to make the change in leadership complete by taking the responsibility for gathering the sheep together once again. When that is accomplished, he will place new, inspired, faithful leaders in authority, and they will be the faithful shepherds that are so desperately needed. And the sheep will trust them.

But as we read the descriptions of the shepherd who will take charge, we discover that it will be an exceptional leader, one who will never lose focus, one who will always do what is right, one who puts the needs of the sheep first. And, of course, this shepherd will be no other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord God has put a plan in motion that will resolve all of the nation’s problems – the fallible leaders will be set aside, and a new and trustworthy leader will be raised up in their place. The sheep will be shown that they are no longer second best – the new leader will take the lower place, and put the people in a new attitude and relationship – one that will guarantee them a new and certain hope.

Do the people deserve such a leader? Not on your life! Will the people openly accept the new leadership style and approach? Not many. Will any begin to follow the leader and learn to see the benefits of his new way? Only a few. This passage tells us that the new leader will always make the right decisions, will always do the right thing, will rule with true and complete justice, will always keep the needs of the people at the foremost of his agenda. But the people will still struggle with this new way.

The hope that this Shepherd will bring is that he will never go back on the covenantal relationship that is the basis for his leadership. Not when the people demean him. Not when the people desert him. Not when they turn a stiff neck toward him. Not when they deny their part of the covenantal responsibility to “be his people”. Not when they try to change the new way into their own way. The Lord will always “be their God”, regardless.

When the time of separation is over, and the nation will be gathered together once again - it will herald the beginning of this new way. And even though the leadership will be perfect, the sheep will still wander off the perfect way, but that will no longer be a reason for their condemnation. The Shepherd will always be there to lead them back, and will never deny them his best.

Read Jeremiah 23:7-8

Israel had always seen their rescue from Egypt as the defining moment in their lives. But the Lord, through the prophet, tells them that the Exodus will no longer be the sign of the covenant that had been their hope. The new sign will become their release from banishment, their release from condemnation, their release from leadership that uses them, their release from failure. That sign, while it isn’t specifically mentioned here, will be the Cross of Calvary.

Of course, that final day is still quite a distance away! Israel had asked for a king like all the other nations had (1 Samuel 8:19-22), and that is exactly what they got and will continue to get. In 1 Samuel 8:10-18, we can read of the warning that Samuel gave to the people regarding the folly of their request, with practically every sentence beginning with “He will take …”! And the leaders of today, with very few exceptions, fall quite nicely into those very same immoral and self-serving characteristics that were revealed 3,000 years ago.

The Righteous Leader that Jeremiah introduces has come, and has set his ways before us. He has called us to not only follow him, but to accept the example that he has offered for our own lives. The solution to the problem of sin is in place and is working, but there is still one problem that hasn’t been overcome yet. We still have to choose to accept the example of Jesus Christ, we still have to let the Spirit of God work within our lives. The end of separation for Judah, the gathering of the tribes from the far reaches of the empires has not been the solution! The Law is no longer the solution for sinful folly. God in Christ has become the solution, and we have to accept his call to faith in him for it to become truly our own.

The problem of inadequate leadership has been cared for, but the human experience still cries out for leaders just like everyone else has, and we still get them. Leaders and people alike have been given the perfect example for our focus and dedication in life, and as imperfect as our following may be, the Example himself is always available to teach us and encourage us and reveal the inadequacy of our decisions, if we will but listen.

Israel and Judah had to go through some severe and trying times before the Solution could be given to them, and they still missed him. The Lord will help to place each step that we take in faith if we will just take that first risky step of surrender! The Lord will guide our hands and hearts, if we will surrender our own bent to lead. And his example will be the greatest benefit to our lives, if we will commit to learning from it.

The lesson that we all need to learn is this – we never can, but God always will – IF we let him. Praise the Lord that he is not only able and willing, but he is available whenever we say “Yes!” to him. Say Yes to Jesus today!