This is a message of hope that the Lord will bring forth His people from all the lands where they were scattered, and He will restore their land to them. He reminds His people that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and He wants them to turn back to the Lord. Judgment again is placed on the "shepherds," because they care more about feeding themselves than they do their flock; therefore, the Lord will shepherd His people and will provide a Shepherd over them, My servant David. We find in the book of John in the New Testament, that Jesus is that good Shepherd. We read about the Valley of Dry Bones, and an object lesson of putting the two sticks together to make one stick which represents the nation of Israel will no longer be divided with the northern and southern tribes, but they will be together again. We are told of other invaders that will be coming from the North, Gog from Magog, which probably points to Rome who will destroy Jerusalem again in 70 AD, and it may also be a prophecy that is not fully fulfilled yet. We are reminded that God is on His throne, both Jews and Gentiles will know that, "I am the Lord," and we are responsible for our choices. There is a promise of an eternal kingdom for those who believe and obey.
