Scripture
Zechariah 11:7-14 (ESV)
So I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders. And I took two staffs, one I named Favor, the other I named Union. And I tended the sheep. In one month I destroyed the three shepherds. But I became impatient with them, and they also detested me. So I said, “I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die. What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed. And let those who are left devour the flesh of one another.” And I took my staff Favor, and I broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples. So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep traders, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD. Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver. Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD, to the potter. Then I broke my second staff Union, annulling the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
AI Prompt
This abstract expressionist artwork vividly captures a moment of decision and transformation. The focus is on a staff, now rendered in two distinct pieces through the use of bold, contrasting strokes and colors. These two pieces are depicted with clear separation, symbolizing a definitive break. Around this central motif, swirls of color and texture suggest the turmoil and emotional depth of the scene. The background, a blend of intense and subdued hues, mirrors the complexity of the emotions involved. Near the broken staff, small specks of bright silver and gold represent a bag of silver coins, further emphasizing the theme of forsaken material wealth. This piece invites the viewer to engage with the symbolism and emotional resonance of the broken staff, using the abstract expressionist style to explore the concept of rupture and change.
Devotional Reflection
In this parable, God speaks as a shepherd who has been rejected by the very sheep he desired to care for and protect. The broken staff and the thirty pieces of silver represent the people's rejection. They want to go their own way. They want to chose their own shepherds. The great irony is that they believe that by throwing off God's rule they are becoming more free--while all the while they are a flock destined for slaughter.