Jeremiah 50:6 “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.”
Jeremiah Chapter Fifty is a prophetic account of the utter defeat and destruction of Babylon, the Capital City of the Chaldean Empire; it is also used as a typical allegory in other Biblical lessons. The Children of Israel were in Babylon during this time, they were still in the Seventy Years of Captivity imposed upon them for their rebellion against the Lord. Israel was suffering great distress and Jeremiah explains why. They were as “lost sheep”, not eternally lost, but wondering about “on the mountains” going “from mountain to hill”, never finding a place of peace and rest and protection and good nourishment. They got into this condition because “their shepherds have caused them to go astray”. Through poor and false teachings “they have forgotten their restingplace”! Their religious leaders had failed miserably: “For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.” (Jeremiah 10:21), “For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:11), “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark [can’t preach]; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” (Isaiah 56:10)! But they will not continue with impunity; for, the Lord declares, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:1). But, there always comes a day in which the Lord hears and responds to the cries of His “lost sheep”; for, He makes this promise, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15)! The “lost sheep” are crying again, there is much confusion and misery in our land! The answer is to cry unto the Lord and to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (II Timothy 4:2); that is, lovingly and tenderly preach “Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2).