God accomplishes His purposes through faithful leaders in His church.  From the elders under Moses to the elders of today’s church, the biblical image often used for these is the shepherd.   In our text, Jeremiah the prophet condemns Israel’s elders for scattering the flock and declares the Lord’s will to care for the remnant by providing faithful shepherds for them.  This same God speaks through the apostles to define the requirements of the good elder in Christ’s church, a message particularly fit for this day when our church ordains a new elder.