Howling of the Shepherds - Zechariah 11:3

In the book of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars. Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O you oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down”, and in chapter eleven and verse three of Zechariah, Zechariah said, “there is a voice of the howling of the shepherds” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds;” Zechariah began with the words, “there is a voice” or “there exists a sound and noise of uttered words” “of the howling” which means “belonging to the wailing” “of the shepherds” or “belonging to the rulers, teachers, herdsmen or ones who tend to a flock”. Zechariah shared how there exists a sound and noise of uttered words and wailing from the rulers and herdsmen who ruled over the people of Israel.

The verse goes on to say, “for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.” Zechariah continued with the words, “for their glory is spoiled” or “because, since and on account that the shepherds' splendor and magnificence exists as despoiled, devastated, ruined and destroyed”: “a voice of the roaring of young lions” which means “and sound and noise of uttered world belonging to the rumbling, moan and distress cry belonging to youthful lions with manes”; “for the pride of Jordan” or “because, since and on account that the exaltation, majesty and excellence belonging to Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approx 200 miles (320 km)” “is spoiled” which means “exists as despoiled, devastated, ruined and destroyed”. Zechariah shared how the “shepherd's” splendor and majesty was destroyed, and the sound and noise of the moaning and distressed call of youthful lions was heard because the exaltation and excellence belonging to “Jordan” was ruined. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Zechariah how the leaders and rulers of Israel began to wail because their majesty was destroyed, and “lions” moaned a distressful sound because “Jordan's” splendor was in ruin. God was at work with the people of Israel, and when their adversaries and foes observed it, they made a clamor. Once again the leaders and people of Israel had fallen away from their relationship with God, and now they were to be overtaken by the Roman Government. This would cause great anguish and despair which would make them wail and their conquerors to boast. God loves the people of Israel, and they are the nation through whom His Son and Messiah Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit so we may discern when God is working on Israel's behalf even when they have forsaken Him and His ways. 

Next time Zechariah shares how Jehovah God says, “feed the flock of the slaughter”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".