OMER COUNT DAY 21
Jeremiah 23 | The Shepherds and The Promise
As we come into Day 21, Jeremiah 23 opens in a way that immediately draws our attention to something serious. YAHUAH begins by addressing the shepherds, the ones who were entrusted with the responsibility to lead, guide, and care for His people. Instead of nurturing the flock, they scattered them and instead of protecting, they neglected and instead of speaking truth, many began to speak from their own hearts.
As you sit with this, you begin to realize that this is not just a word locked in the past. It speaks directly into our time as well. Because today, just as then, there are many voices. There are teachings, influences, platforms, and leaders shaping how people understand truth, how they see Father, and how they walk this journey and not every voice carries His heart.
YAHUAH exposes something very specific here. He speaks about those who say, “peace, peace,” when there is no peace. In other words, a kind of comfort that is not rooted in truth. A reassurance that avoids correction. A message that soothes, but does not transform and if we’re honest, we can see how easily that can happen in our day, where truth can sometimes be softened to make it more acceptable, more appealing, or less confronting.
What stands out so powerfully in this chapter is that YAHUAH does not leave His people in that condition. He does not simply point out what is wrong, NO, He responds with a promise. He says that He Himself will gather His flock. He will raise up shepherds who will truly feed them, who will lead with knowledge, understanding, and integrity. Then He points forward to the Righteous Branch, the King who will reign in justice and righteousness.
So in the middle of the warning, there is a deep assurance: even when human leadership fails, YAHUAH remains faithful to lead His people Himself. His truth is not lost, and His voice is not silenced.
Reflection
As we take this in, the invitation today becomes very personal, but not in a heavy way, in a sincere and honest way before Father.
It’s an opportunity to pause and ask, what voices am I allowing to shape my life right now? Not just what I listen to outwardly, but what I agree with inwardly. Am I drawn to what is true, even when it corrects me, or do I find myself leaning toward what feels comfortable and affirming?
And then there is another layer to consider. Each of us, in some way, carries influence—whether it’s in our home, our conversations, our friendships, or even how we respond to others. And so the question becomes, when I speak, when I share, when I guide…am I reflecting His heart? Or am I, at times, speaking from my own thoughts, my own emotions, without first seeking Him?
This is not about becoming suspicious of everything or everyone. It’s about growing in discernment. It’s about becoming a people who are so anchored in Him that we recognize His voice, not just because of what we hear, but because of what we know in relationship with Him.
What makes this chapter so beautiful, even in its weight, is that it carries so much hope. Because maybe there have been moments of confusion, or times where you’ve trusted voices that later didn’t carry the fullness of truth. Maybe there have been seasons where things felt unclear or scattered, but YAHUAH’s heart in this chapter is not to leave you there.
He reveals Himself as the One who gathers, as the One who restores and the One who gently brings His people back into alignment. You are not left to figure this out on your own, and you are not disqualified because of past missteps.
He is actively leading you, He is able to sharpen your discernment and He is able to re-establish your footing and guide you into truth again, step by step and that promise of the Righteous Branch reminds us that His leadership is perfect, steady, and unshakable. When everything else feels uncertain, He remains constant.
So today, you can rest in this: He is not distant. He is present, leading, correcting, and restoring with intention and care.
Abba Yahuah,
I come before You with a heart that wants to hear You clearly.
Where there has been confusion in my life, I ask that You bring clarity. Where I have listened to voices that did not fully reflect Your truth, gently lead me back to You. Teach me to recognize Your voice, not just in what I hear, but in what I know through walking with You.
Refine my discernment and align my heart with Your truth, even when it challenges me. Let me not seek comfort above truth, but truth that brings life and Father, in the areas where I influence others, help me to walk carefully and humbly. Guard my words, that I would not speak from myself, but from a place of seeking You first.
Thank You that You are my Shepherd, that You gather, restore, and lead faithfully. I trust You to guide me and to keep me anchored in what is true.
In the name of Yahushua. HalleluYAH!
Teaching by Esther Cohen, which will further open and deepen what we’ve touched on today.
In a world full of voices, may you be found anchored in the One who still speaks truth.
Shalom,
