Jeremiah 23: Group Study Handout

Overview

Yahweh pronounces woe against the shepherds who have destroyed and scattered His flock (vv. 1-2). He promises to gather the remnant of His people and set up new shepherds who will care for them (vv.

Key verse

“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

Jeremiah 23:5 (WEB)

Outline

1. Jeremiah 23:1–2 Condemnation of the Shepherds
2. Jeremiah 23:3–4 Promise of Restoration
3. Jeremiah 23:5–8 The Righteous Branch
4. Jeremiah 23:9–14 Grief over False Prophets
5. Jeremiah 23:15–22 Judgment on False Prophets
6. Jeremiah 23:23–32 The Nature of God’s Presence
7. Jeremiah 23:33–40 Consequences of Misuse of Prophecy

Discussion questions

1. In v1, who does Yahweh pronounce 'woe' to in this chapter?
2. What do the shepherds do to the flock in v2 that Yahweh condemns?
3. In vv. 14-15, how does Yahweh describe the prophets of Jerusalem compared to Sodom and Gomorrah?
4. In v28, what does Yahweh mean when he contrasts 'the straw' with 'the wheat'?
5. When have you felt led astray by false words like in v16, where prophets teach vanity?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Jeremiah 23: Jeremiah 30, Hebrews 4, Ezekiel 34.

Before next time: read Jeremiah 24.