Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:1-6 (Pentecost 9: Series B)
Old Testament: Jeremiah 23:1-6 (Pentecost 9: Series B)
After pronouncing judgment on these wayward shepherds, God promises to shepherd His people Himself and then to raise up under-shepherds over them.
Our text from Jeremiah gives us a promise and challenge for today’s church. The roots of this prophecy challenge the corrupt leadership over the people of Israel. It is a word of law to the shepherds who have destroyed and scattered God’s sheep. After pronouncing judgment on these wayward shepherds, God promises to shepherd His people Himself and then to raise up under-shepherds over them. In this promise we find a hope, peace, security, and prosperity on account of the faithfulness of God through His Messiah, the righteous Branch who will reign as king. The promise and challenge of the text is allowing our hope and lives to be shaped by the Messiah or by our own wills or desires.
I find it fascinating that Jeremiah 23 shares more than just the chapter number but also the theme of Psalm 23. This serendipitous connection could be a terrific opportunity for us to preach on these texts together thematically. Playing off the connection between Jeremiah 23 and Psalm 23 and also the familiarity of Psalm 23 in culture, we will use an Imagistic Structure to highlight the dynamic between the familiar and the unfamiliar in our text, with the Psalm, and also the corresponding art from the image.
Once again, we return to the Central Image Structure. In this sermon configuration we are going to use a single image throughout which is used to foster devotional contemplation of Christ as our Good Shepherd.
Using a classic work of ecclesiastical art like the “Good Shepherd Stained Glass Window,” we begin the sermon by describing the window for the hearers. From this image we mine Jeremiah 23 and Psalm 23 as sources for continuing devotional contemplation throughout the sermon together with the artwork:
“The image serves as a lens through which one views the textual exposition, the theological confession, the evangelical proclamation, and the hearer interpretation of the sermon. Having a single image lends coherence to the sermon.”[2]
We will use a single focus rather than a multiple focus for this sermon. With a single focus the image remains the same throughout the sermon. Our single focus will be on the image of the “bummer lamb” which is central and unchanging to the devotional contemplation.
From this single focus, the sermon can reinforce one theme in a first encounter with the image which will establish the Gospel emphasis and then, as the image is applied again and again in the sermon, it locates that theme in relation to the text and, later, in relation to the hearers.
By focusing on one part of the image (the bummer lamb), which remains in the fore of the minds of the hearers, a fresh approach is created for the listeners through the art on display. As the preacher:
“(You are) changing how the image is seen, and the hearers are able to track the basic development of a larger theme in the sermon. Each stage of development (for example, moving from a misconception to a clearer vision, or moving from application in terms of one’s relationship to God to application in terms of one’s relationship to others) is captured by preaching the image through a different perspective.”[3]
In order to set up what we are going to do with Jeremiah 23 and Psalm 23 along with our image of the Good Shepherd, we should begin by talking about a phenomenon in shepherding which you may or may not be aware of. It is the phenomenon in a flock of sheep called the “bummer lamb.” What occurs sometimes is, when a lamb is born, it happens that the newborn is rejected by its mother. She does not allow it to feed. She may even attempt to smother it. She will often shoulder it into the fence to drive it away, and worse, may even occasionally kick it to try and cause it to die. Bummer... I know. All the flock rejects this lamb, except the shepherd. A good shepherd, when they see this happening, takes the little lamb from the flock and holds it in their arms, feeds it from their hand, and lets it sleep on their chest. The lamb is now no longer a “bummer lamb,” but it is now the “shepherds lamb.” In fact, later on when the lamb is strong enough to be re-introduced to the flock, whenever the Shepherd comes to lead the flock, the first sheep to greet him is the “shepherd’s lamb.” The reason is because that specific sheep along with all the rest know his voice, his words, and his care (John 10:5 and 10:27).
In fact, later on when the lamb is strong enough to be re-introduced to the flock, whenever the Shepherd comes to lead the flock, the first sheep to greet him is the “shepherd’s lamb.”
If you think this is wild, there are numerous articles online about the phenomenon. One rancher explains the amount of care which goes into taking care of a bummer lamb:
“Bummer lambs create a lot of work for time-pressed farmers with larger flocks and acreage to tend to. They need this care because bummer lambs do not always make it. Bummer lambs are often weak because they have a problem that will prevent them from thriving. Lambs can have birth defects which are impossible to see. Often, sheep do not show any symptoms of a problem until it is too late to deal with it.”[4]
Now, have your hearers look at the iconic stained glass window of the Good Shepherd.
What does He have in His arms? The bummer lamb! It has been there the whole time. Are the leaders in our text from Jeremiah 23 not acting like those members of the flock who reject and separate the bummer lambs out of the flock? Are we not like the bummer lamb? We were born with the fatal curse of original sin (Psalm 51:5) that prevents us from being accepted by God and others around us (Romans 6:23; 7:19-25)? It is easy to see how Jeremiah is describing this bummed out situation happening in the flock of Israel, where God Himself would have to come and rescue and reunite the flock. But before it was too late, Jesus, the “Good Shepherd,” came and took us in His arms (Romans 5:8-10) and commited to taking the time to save us, six hours one Friday, thirty three years on earth, a plan made in time for eternity since our fall all the way back in the Garden of Eden. But it is even more than that! One glorious resurrection day, the Good Shepherd rose from the dead to lead His flock called the Church “through the valley of the shadow of death” to eternal life in His Kingdom forever. At this point, you can read Psalm 23 so your hearers experience the connection to Jeremiah 23 through the lens of the “bummer lamb” as they have been contemplating the work of art. They can look at this window into God’s grace even as they look at the stained glass.
As a preacher, when you listen to this psalm now through this single central image, think of how each text (Jeremiah 23 and Psalm 23) connects to the theme of the “bummer lamb.” Anticipate how your hearers can see the prophecy from Jeremiah and the Psalm anew because of this new understanding. Press into the art of the window as the sun shines through it to illuminate and ignite our devotional contemplation on this text of Scripture centered in the Gospel action of our resurrected savior Jesus. Create connections to the other readings from 1 Peter 2:19–25, John 10:1–10, or even Ezekiel 34:11-16. Craft a hearing of the experience of the “bummer lamb” through the art of the classic stained glass window centered in the words of our text together with Psalm 23 so it will grant a new hearing to a familiar text that will magnify the Gospel in your proclamation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the benefit of your hearers faith and life.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on Jeremiah 23:1-6.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Jeremiah 23:1-6.
Text Week-A treasury of resources from various traditions to help you preach Jeremiah 23:1-6.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
Lectionary Podcast- Dr. Walter A. Maier III Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN walks us through Jeremiah 23:1-6.
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[1] https://photo.lcms.org/gallery-image/Searchable-Church-Art/G0000fcRe9VuOGwA/I0000bHxo2lEtfF8/C0000U5sUkOosjF0
[2] https://concordiatheology.org/sermon-structs/dynamic/imagistic-structures/central-image/
[3] https://concordiatheology.org/sermon-structs/dynamic/imagistic-structures/central-image/
