Zechariah 11;1

 Zechariah 11:1 says, Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.  This is a call from God for people to get ready for destruction.  Matthew Henry says one interpretation of this is that it is a warning of the destruction of the temple, which was built of the cedars of Lebanon and was burned by the Roman's.  Others see it as the Jerusalem falling, and the cedars representing the great men of the Jews.  We do know that both occurred, so God's prophesy was fulfilled.  Verse two adds, Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.  If the mighty cedars had fallen, what hope was there for the weaker trees.  If the mighty men had fallen, having given in to the temptation of sin, what hope was there for weaker men if they followed them into sin.  They should howl at the fall of the mighty men.  If the mighty men of the country today, those who are in power, fall under the power of sin, we who are less powerful in the eyes of the world should cry out against their sin and coming destruction, but we should never follow them into their sinful ways.  Verse three continues, There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the leaders who were to be shepherds to the flock, God's chosen people.  Instead, they had relied on their own strength and went their own way without concern for protecting them.  Some people in power today are more concerned with themselves than they are with doing what God wants or even about what is best for those who are less powerful, but we need to make sure that this isn't true in the church, or even in our own life as followers of Christ.  Verse four declares, Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;  Then verse five adds, Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.  God calls on those who are supposed to be shepherds to begin acting like true shepherds.  They are to have compassion for the flock entrusted to them, instead of bragging about their own riches which they attribute to God's blessing them.  Instead of doing what was best for all of God's people, the rulers had become concerned only with what enriched themselves.  We cannot use our status as Christians to be viewed as a way to enrich ourselves with no concern for the less fortunate, especially if we are a leader in the church.  Verse six continues, For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.  God said that He would no longer have pity on those who were supposed to be His people, and He would no longer deliver, or protect, them.  If anyone refuses to accept God's gift of salvation today, then He will not protect them, but will give them up to everlasting punishment when Christ returns.  Verse seven states, And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.  God said that since the shepherds had failed in their responsibility to care for His flock, that He would take over their care Himself.  God said that Jesus Christ was coming to take care of both the spiritual and material needs of those who put their faith in Him.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our spiritual need is met immediately, as our sins are forgiven, and we have the promise of God that He will meet our material needs as well as long as we are being obedient to Him through faith.  Verse eight adds, Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.  God said He was going to cut off those false shepherds who had claimed to be following God's guidance in leading His sheep.  When Jesus Christ came to redeem mankind, the religious leaders of the people of Israel were cut off, because they refused to obey God's word.  If those who profess to be leaders of God's people today but who have not accepted Jesus Christ and do not listen to and heed God's word, then one day, when God's final judgment comes, they will be cut off from the kingdom of God.