Jeremiah 23:1

 Jeremiah 23:1 says, Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.  There was a special warning to the pastors, those who were supposed to be teaching the people to obey God but who were instead leading them away from Him.  Verse two declares, Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.  God specified how the pastors had failed.  They had scattered  His flock and driven the people away from Him.  God said that they would be punished for their actions.  Pastors then and pastors now have a responsibility to lead people to God and take care of their needs, especially the spiritual ones.  Matthew Henry says that these pastors had no concern about the welfare of God's sheep, or people, at all.  Verse three states, And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.  God said that He would one day gather the remnant of His flock together, and one day He is going to gather all of His people to Him forever.  These would be those who had remained faithful to God, no matter what.  Verse four adds, And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.  God said that He would place faithful shepherds over them and they would no longer have to live in fear.  God places true shepherds over His people today and when we listen to His word spoken through them and obey His word, we do not have to live in fear.  Verse five proclaims, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.  This is a prophesy about the coming of the Messiah, Who would reign in power and judgment.  Verse six adds, In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  God said that the people of Judah and Israel would dwell in safety.  These were the people of Judah and Israel who put their faith in the God and the coming Messiah, and fortunately for us would include the Gentiles, or everyone else, as well.  Verse seven continues, Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;  God said the day was coming when He would not be known just as the God Who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.  Verse eight concludes, But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.  God said that one day He would be known as the God who brought His people back out of the north country.  God established a covenant with His people when He brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they failed to live up to their part of the covenant and were once again defeated and scattered.  God was going to establish a new covenant with His people through the Messiah, and it would be an everlasting spiritual covenant.