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Zechariah-11

The Cost of Love: A Devotional Study on Zechariah 11​

Introduction​

The book of Zechariah comes near the end of the Old Testament. It shares a time of rebuilding and restoration after the Babylonian exile. In chapter eleven, Zechariah presents a vision that reveals the exorbitant cost of God's love for His people. May we ponder the significance of this vision and the indescribable love that compelled God to bear such a cost.

Section 1: The Three Sheep (Zechariah 11:1-3)​

Devotional Thought: In Zechariah's vision, he sees a man with three shepherd's staffs. God then directs Zechariah's attention to the poor condition of the sheep: one wandered off, another was killed, and the last died of disease. These images reveal God's disheartened heart for His people. Their unfaithfulness and suffering depict the tragic cost of sin and disobedience.

Reflection Questions:

  • How do the images of the sheep resonate with your experience of God's people?
  • In what ways do you see the consequences of sin and disobedience in the lives of believers?

Section 2: The Shepherd and His Wage (Zechariah 11:4-14)​

Devotional Thought: Zechariah's attention then shifts to the shepherd, whose actions reveal his true character. The shepherd, who is supposed to care for the sheep, strikes two of the sheep and takes their wool and meat for himself. The third sheep he sells for thirty pieces of silver. This shepherd represents the leaders of Israel who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, ultimately leading to His death (Matthew 26:15).

Reflection Questions:

  • How do we respond to the betrayal and greed of spiritual leaders?
  • How can we distinguish between true servant leadership and abusive leadership, and what can we do about it?

Section 3: The Cost of Love (Zechariah 11:15-17)​

Devotional Thought: In a final heinous act, the shepherd's employer demands, "What is that to me? Let me be freed of him! It is better for me to have my wool and my fat at no cost than to have you carry the fat and the wool and go no farther." This poem's timeless message still resounds today. Indeed, it is better for us to avoid the inconvenience and expense of true love and servanthood than to love and serve others sacrificially.

Reflection Questions:

  • How does this passage challenge us to redefine what it means to love and serve others today?
  • Are we willing to bear the cost of love and servanthood?

Conclusion:​

Zechariah's vision reveals the exorbitant cost God paid to redeem us. It calls us to reflect on the true nature of God's love and our own responsibility to love and serve others, even in the face of adversity and costs. May we carry this message as a reminder to love like God does, understanding that the price was paid for us in full by the ultimate servant-leader: Jesus Christ.