Leaders Beware

Isaiah 56:9-12

Isaiah is not giving his opinion but relaying the words God has spoken into his mind and heart, and it is about the lack of leadership in Israel.  At the time of this writing watchmen were placed on the walls to watch for all kinds of enemies, and one such enemy was wild animals that came into the fields to devour the crops.  The crops were the lifeblood of the nations, without crops they were not able to maintain their economy.  Verses 9 and 10 imply they sleep when they should be on duty, and the analogy of a mute dog is used, they do not bark, they do not watch for the crop destroyers, in fact, they are a sleep on the job.

It gets worse, these dreamers are the shepherds of the people, and they have much in common with our leaders in the United States of America, they have a great appetite for power and money, but no appetite for leadership.  They were consumed with self, and it is clear when self rules all else comes in second.  As you read verses 11-12 you see the heart of these leaders: “The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough.  But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to their own gain, one and all.  “Come,” they say, “let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure.” 

We have example after example of bad leadership in the Scriptures, one such example is listed in Ezekiel 34:1-2, “The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?”

What happens to a nation whose leaders are self-indulgent?  It looks weak to its enemies, its people have no vision, its culture begins to seek new moral lows, it becomes lawless, and it looks like the USA.  But God is watching and you do not want to be in that group.  Do you recall the prophet Jeremiah, this is what God said to him about the bad shepherds of Israel, and do not forget God does not change, what was sin for them is sin for our leadership today.  “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord.”  (Jeremiah 23:1-2)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice