My Family Prayer Book

 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 23:1-6 Jeremiah prophesied in the final years of the Kingdom of Judah, through the reign of the final king, Zedekiah. Shepherds are responsible for protecting and providing sustenance for their flocks, keeping peace within the flock, defending against attackers, searching for sheep that have gone astray, and rescuing those in danger. Yet the opening verse of Jeremiah 23 accuses the shepherds of destroying and scattering God’s sheep! Shepherds in Jeremiah 23:1, are the kings — specifically the kings of Judah. God’s anger is aroused by the “evil doings” of the descendants of good King Josiah (640-609 BCE) who “judged the cause of the poor and the needy”, unfortunately, ruled Judah for dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practising oppression and violence Shallum/Jehoahaz (ruled 3 months in 609 BCE) Jehoiakim (ruled for 11 years from 609-598 BCE) Jehoiachin (ruled 3 months in 597 BCE) Zedekiah (ruled for 10 years from 597-587 BCE...

  Jul-18 Sixteenth Sunday Jeremiah 23:1-6 This passage is the conclusion of the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the shepherds of Israel. The bad shepherds of the flock are the five ungodly kings of Judah (Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah) on the throne of David who have brought to ruin and scattered the descendants of Abraham and David, until the fall of Jerusalem to Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar and the destruction of Solomon's Temple in 587 BC. Christ is spoken of as a branch from David's family who will set things right.  Psalm 23 King David, a mere shepherd-boy who was chosen to be the ruler over Israel, sings this psalm of Yahweh, the true Shepherd and King of men. It sounds as if he wrote it in his later years, with a fullness of experience, and a tone of subdued, quiet confidence which speaks of a heart mellowed by years, and of a faith made strong by many trials. The old king seems to be looking back with such vivid and loving remembrance to hi...