"Beauty" And "Bands"

 Zechariah 11:7  

"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." 

   

   These verses discuss Israel's rejection of the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ. When those who have power proudly abuse their power, and, instead of being shepherds, are as young lions, they may expect that the righteous God will humble their pride and break their power.  Now those that were being inflicted and abused by those in power has not changed today. In fact there are Groups being formed, that "they" say it is for a better way of life for "them," while at the same time they are destroying the way of life for everyone else.    

   Christ was first rejected in favor of rulers who did not care for the people which became a "flock of the slaughter."  How can we go to God to ask a blessing on unlawful methods of getting wealth, or to return thanks for success in them? There was a general decay of religion among them, just as it is among us today.  

   The prophet had taken two staffs; "Beauty," symbolized the privileges of the Jewish nation, in their national covenant;(millennial blessings) the other he called "Bands," symbolized the harmony which united them as "the flock of God."  But they chose to cleave to false teachers.  The cutting of the staffs shows that Israel has forfeited these blessings in their rejection of the Messiah.

   The carnal mind and the friendship of the world are enmity to God; and God hates all the workers of iniquity: it is easy to foresee what this will end in. The prophet demanded wages, or a reward, and received thirty pieces of silver. By Divine direction he cast it to the potter, as in contempt for the smallness of the amount. This foreshadowed the bargain of Judas to betray Christ, and the final method of applying it. 

   My Friends, Nothing ruins people so quickly, as weakening the brotherhood among men. When sin abounds, love waxes cold, and civil contests follow. No wonder if those fall out among themselves, who have provoked God to fall out with them. Willful contempt of Christ is the great cause of men's ruin. And if Believers rightly valued Christ, they would not contend about little matters. 

Amen! 

Reading: Zech. 11:4-14

HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry