The foolish shepherd

 Zec 11:15  And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 

Zec 11:16  For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 

Zec 11:17  Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. 

"Woe to the idol shepherd,.... Or, "the shepherd of nothing" (w); that is, no true shepherd, that is good for nothing, for an idol is nothing in the world, 1Co_8:4 and who is an idol himself, sits in the temple of God, and is worshipped as if he was God. 2Th_2:4 and is an encourager and defender of idolatry:

that leaveth the flock; has no regard to its spiritual concerns; does not feed it, but fleece it, and leaves it to the cruelty and avarice of his creatures under him:"

The above is commentary from John Gill on  Zec 11:17.

Zechariah is told to get dressed as a "foolish shepherd. What were the instruments of the foolish shepherd? A Scrip (a writing or manuscript) and a staff. 

To show the opposite what does David say the Good Shepherd has in His hands?

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

The Good shepherd has the means of comfort and discipline and protection in his hands. 

David, a shepherd in his own right carried a sling and by the way he was very good with it, and he used it to protect the sheep.

Here is my question, How do the sheep know the difference?

They do not know they are following the wrong shepherd to the wrong gate until it is too late. 

Christ Himself talks of the hireling vs the Good shepherd.

Joh_10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

I know Christ is THE Good Shepherd, and we can draw no parallels between Him and the human who stands in the pulpit. For Christ will never let us down or lead us astray, yet the human representative can.

Beware when attending church, any church, or a tv ministry or any ministry and be certain they are of God. They are using God's money appropriately, they are presenting the pure and unadulterated Word of God. They are calling Sin, sin. 

Be certain Pastors when someone is filling your pulpit that they are Good Shepherds and not hirelings looking for a quick buck.

The Good Shepherd has given you the tools to verify whether the shepherd you are following is to be trusted or not. His Word, and His Spirit will testify to their veracity.

Beware the "foolish" shepherd.