Ezekiel 34: God's Heart for His Flock
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;
As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;
Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.
And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.
And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.
Ezekiel 34 serves as both a scathing indictment of Israel's leadership and a radiant promise of God's unwavering care for His people. It exposes the failures of those entrusted with shepherding the nation and unveils God's own commitment to gather, protect, and nourish His scattered flock. This chapter holds profound relevance for leaders and followers alike, challenging us to examine our responsibilities and to trust in God's ultimate shepherding.
The Failure of the Shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-10)
The Lord's message is clear and direct: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves!" (Ezekiel 34:2). Instead of nurturing and protecting the flock, Israel's leaders prioritized their own comfort and gain. They feasted on the best of the flock, clothed themselves with wool, and slaughtered the choice animals, all while neglecting the needs of the sheep (Ezekiel 34:3). They failed to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, or seek the lost (Ezekiel 34:4). Instead, they ruled with force and harshness.
This neglect and abuse resulted in the scattering of the flock. Without proper leadership and care, the sheep became prey for wild animals (Ezekiel 34:5-6). The leaders' failure to uphold justice, maintain peace, and punish evil led to chaos and tyranny. Like bad kings, false prophets, and faithless priests, they abandoned God's agenda. Consequently, God brings them into His courtroom to face the charges against them and hear their sentence (Ezekiel 34:7-10). God declares that He will rescue His flock from their mouths, ensuring they will no longer be fattened at the expense of His people (Ezekiel 34:10). This serves as a potent warning for leaders in all spheres, particularly within the church (see Acts 20:28-35), reminding them of their solemn responsibility to care for those entrusted to them.
God as the Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16)
In stark contrast to the selfish and negligent shepherds, God declares, "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them" (Ezekiel 34:11). This marks a pivotal shift in the chapter, moving from judgment to hope. God promises to personally intervene and fulfill the role that the leaders had so miserably failed to perform.
He promises to rescue His sheep from all the places where they have been scattered, to bring them back to their own land, and to feed them in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 34:12-13). He will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the injured, and strengthen the weak (Ezekiel 34:16). He will shepherd the flock with justice and care, ensuring their well-being and security.
While the return from Babylonian exile offered a partial fulfillment of these promises, the full realization awaits the millennial kingdom, when Israel will be fully regathered and restored under the ultimate Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Judgment and the Coming Kingdom (Ezekiel 34:17-24)
Before the establishment of Christ's kingdom, a judgment will take place to separate the righteous from the wicked, the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). This distinction is crucial because both groups will coexist until that day, as they did in Ezekiel's time. The wicked not only consume the best resources for themselves but also spoil what remains for the weak (Ezekiel 34:17-19, 21).
God promises to establish His true shepherd over His people: His servant David, a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ, the Son of David. He will be Israel's perfect shepherd and prince (Ezekiel 34:23-24). Just as David faithfully shepherded his flock (1 Samuel 17:34-37), the Lord Jesus will do so even more perfectly (John 10:11-18).
The Covenant of Peace (Ezekiel 34:25-31)
With Christ ruling Israel, God declares, "I will make a covenant of peace with them" (Ezekiel 34:25). This covenant promises safety and security in the land, free from both wild animals and human enemies. The land itself will become perpetually productive during the kingdom age.
Most importantly, the people of Israel will recognize their true Messiah, their shepherd. They will bow in worship to Jesus Christ. They will know that the Lord their God is with them and that they, the house of Israel, are His people, the sheep of His pasture (Ezekiel 34:30-31). This chapter concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's faithfulness to His promises and His unwavering love for His people.
Ezekiel 34 calls us to reflect on the qualities of true leadership, emphasizing the importance of selfless service, justice, and compassion. It also reminds us of God's unwavering commitment to care for His own, offering hope and assurance in the midst of challenging times. Ultimately, this chapter points to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep and who will one day establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness.
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;
As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;
Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.
And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.
And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.
Ezekiel 34 serves as both a scathing indictment of Israel's leadership and a radiant promise of God's unwavering care for His people. It exposes the failures of those entrusted with shepherding the nation and unveils God's own commitment to gather, protect, and nourish His scattered flock. This chapter holds profound relevance for leaders and followers alike, challenging us to examine our responsibilities and to trust in God's ultimate shepherding.
The Failure of the Shepherds (Ezekiel 34:1-10)
The Lord's message is clear and direct: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves!" (Ezekiel 34:2). Instead of nurturing and protecting the flock, Israel's leaders prioritized their own comfort and gain. They feasted on the best of the flock, clothed themselves with wool, and slaughtered the choice animals, all while neglecting the needs of the sheep (Ezekiel 34:3). They failed to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, or seek the lost (Ezekiel 34:4). Instead, they ruled with force and harshness.
This neglect and abuse resulted in the scattering of the flock. Without proper leadership and care, the sheep became prey for wild animals (Ezekiel 34:5-6). The leaders' failure to uphold justice, maintain peace, and punish evil led to chaos and tyranny. Like bad kings, false prophets, and faithless priests, they abandoned God's agenda. Consequently, God brings them into His courtroom to face the charges against them and hear their sentence (Ezekiel 34:7-10). God declares that He will rescue His flock from their mouths, ensuring they will no longer be fattened at the expense of His people (Ezekiel 34:10). This serves as a potent warning for leaders in all spheres, particularly within the church (see Acts 20:28-35), reminding them of their solemn responsibility to care for those entrusted to them.
God as the Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:11-16)
In stark contrast to the selfish and negligent shepherds, God declares, "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them" (Ezekiel 34:11). This marks a pivotal shift in the chapter, moving from judgment to hope. God promises to personally intervene and fulfill the role that the leaders had so miserably failed to perform.
He promises to rescue His sheep from all the places where they have been scattered, to bring them back to their own land, and to feed them in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 34:12-13). He will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the injured, and strengthen the weak (Ezekiel 34:16). He will shepherd the flock with justice and care, ensuring their well-being and security.
While the return from Babylonian exile offered a partial fulfillment of these promises, the full realization awaits the millennial kingdom, when Israel will be fully regathered and restored under the ultimate Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Judgment and the Coming Kingdom (Ezekiel 34:17-24)
Before the establishment of Christ's kingdom, a judgment will take place to separate the righteous from the wicked, the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). This distinction is crucial because both groups will coexist until that day, as they did in Ezekiel's time. The wicked not only consume the best resources for themselves but also spoil what remains for the weak (Ezekiel 34:17-19, 21).
God promises to establish His true shepherd over His people: His servant David, a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ, the Son of David. He will be Israel's perfect shepherd and prince (Ezekiel 34:23-24). Just as David faithfully shepherded his flock (1 Samuel 17:34-37), the Lord Jesus will do so even more perfectly (John 10:11-18).
The Covenant of Peace (Ezekiel 34:25-31)
With Christ ruling Israel, God declares, "I will make a covenant of peace with them" (Ezekiel 34:25). This covenant promises safety and security in the land, free from both wild animals and human enemies. The land itself will become perpetually productive during the kingdom age.
Most importantly, the people of Israel will recognize their true Messiah, their shepherd. They will bow in worship to Jesus Christ. They will know that the Lord their God is with them and that they, the house of Israel, are His people, the sheep of His pasture (Ezekiel 34:30-31). This chapter concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's faithfulness to His promises and His unwavering love for His people.
Ezekiel 34 calls us to reflect on the qualities of true leadership, emphasizing the importance of selfless service, justice, and compassion. It also reminds us of God's unwavering commitment to care for His own, offering hope and assurance in the midst of challenging times. Ultimately, this chapter points to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep and who will one day establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness.