The Scattering

Scripture

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.’

~Matthew 26:31, NASB

Quote

In one person, the Shepherd embodies all that the sheep need: leadership, provision, protection and care.

~Ya’akov

What would happen to a flock of sheep if the Shepherd were to be eliminated? They would start wandering in all directions and get scattered all over the place. In the O.T., Israel is personified as God’s flock. Psalm 100:3, “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture,” is one of many examples where Israel is the sheep and the LORD is the shepherd. I had never given that much thought to the above scripture but Jesus is prophesying about the future and the scattering of Israel. Because they rejected Jesus as the Messiah, God has scattered them all over the planet. Jews are everywhere, even is some parts of Africa. Not only are they scattered, they are unsettled in their mind and spirit. They live in constant fear because they do not have the protection of their Shepherd. They forfeited this blessing when they rejected Christ. Jews as a rule vote democrat and I asks one of the Jews for Jesus why this was true. He told me, “It is because they are afraid. They are especially afraid of the religious right which has found a home within the Republican Party. They believe that the next Hitler will come from the religious right.” I told him, “That is crazy. The religious right is pro-Israel and the democrats do not support the State of Israel.” He said, “I know that and you know it but you will never convince them.”

Let’s jump over to Deuteronomy 28 and Moses warning to the Israelites about what would happen if they disobeyed. This is one of the most amazing chapters in the Bible as Moses predicts what will happen if the Israelites reject the Messiah:

  1. The LORD Himself will send you curses; confusion and frustration in everything you do {v.20}
  2. The LORD will cause you to be defeated by your enemies {v.25}
  3. You will be oppressed and robbed and no one will come to save you {v.29}
  4. You will watch your children be taken as slaves and you will not be able to stop them {v.32}
  5. You will become an object of ridicule among the nations where the LORD sends you {v.37}
  6. Foreigners will rule over you {v.43}
  7. You will serve your enemies {v.48}
  8. You will be destitute, lacking in everything {v.48}
  9. The LORD will scatter you among the nations of earth {v.64}
  10. There among the nations, you will find no peace or place to rest. The LORD will cause your heart to tremble. You will live night and day in fear, unsure if you will survive. {vs.65-66}

Is this amazing or what! I pray for Israel to turn to Jesus practically everyday. They are their own worse enemy. They can rectify this situation whenever they decide to repent and turn to Christ but for some strange reason, they stubbornly refuse. I wonder if they ever read Deuteronomy 28 or Isaiah 53. No wonder Paul got frustrated with them: they refuse to acknowledge the truth. God gave them the Scriptures and the Messiah and they have rejected both.

EXTRA

I did get by to see Vellene and Whitey yesterday. Both are doing well although Whitey {Kellie Sims dad} was not having a good day. He usually has one bad day a week but he hadn’t missed a Sunday of drive-in worship in over a year. Actually, we had six cars last week: we usually have 3-4. Communion this Sunday and Keith will be with us to do the Gideon Presentation.

With the prospect of rain in the forecast, I bought rye grass seed yesterday. You can’t beat the weather we have had this year and the past few days have been wonderful. I do love FALL. Danville is off this Friday and that will give me a chance to attend the OLD TIME FIDDLER’S CONVENTION in Athens. Hannah and I love blue grass music. Actually, I have a broad taste: I like old country, blue grass, classical, Jewish and some pop like Roy Orbison. I detest rap, jazz and rock. A good way to torture me would be to put me in a room with jazz or rock. I’d much rather have a root canal.

Today is the last day of September and the first day of the rest of your life. Have a good day. Thanks for reading the blog—both of you. I don’t think Big Mama even reads it anymore. She says it is too hard to find. Carol reads it and perhaps a few others. Whoever you are; thank YOU!

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