231 " Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture !" declares the Lord . 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people : "You have scattered My flock and driven them away , and have not attended to them; behold , I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds ," declares the Lord . 3 "Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where e I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture , and they will be fruitful and multiply . 4 "I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer , nor be terrified , nor will any be missing ," declares the Lord 5 "Behold , the days are coming ," declares the Lord , "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch ; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land . 6 "In His days Judah will be saved , And Israel will dwell securely ; And this is His name by which He will be called , 'The Lord our righteousness .' 7 " Therefore behold , the days are coming ," declares the Lord , "when they will no longer say , 'As the Lord lives , who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt ,' 8 but, 'As the Lord lives , who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where e I had driven them.' Then they will live on their own soil ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 23:1-8
Commentary on Jeremiah 23:1-8
(Read Jeremiah 23:1-8)
Woe be to those who are set to feed God's people, but take no concern to do them good! Here is a word of comfort to the neglected sheep. Though only a remnant of God's flock is left, he will find them out, and they shall be brought to their former habitations. Christ is spoken of as a branch from David's family. He is righteous himself, and through him all his people are made righteous. Christ shall break the usurped power of Satan. All the spiritual seed of believing Abraham and praying Jacob shall be protected, and shall be saved from the guilt and dominion of sin. In the days of Christ's government in the soul, the soul dwells at ease. He is here spoken of as "the Lord our Righteousness." He is so our Righteousness as no creature could be. His obedience unto death is the justifying righteousness of believers, and their title to heavenly happiness. And their sanctification, as the source of all their personal obedience is the effect of their union with him, and of the supply of this Spirit. By this name every true believer shall call him, and call upon him. We have nothing to plead but this, Christ has died, yea, rather is risen again; and we have taken him for our Lord. This righteousness which he has wrought out to the satisfaction of law and justice, becomes ours; being a free gift given to us, through the Spirit of God, who puts it upon us, clothes us with it, enables us to lay hold upon it, and claim an interest in it. "The Lord our Righteousness" is a sweet name to a convinced sinner; to one that has felt the guilt of sin in his conscience; seen his need of that righteousness, and the worth of it. This great salvation is far more glorious than all former deliverances of his church. May our souls be gathered to Him, and be found in him.