Articles
Fleecing The Flock - Ezekiel 34
Fleecing The Flock - Ezekiel 34
God appointed men to lead His people. The Kings were to govern for the benefit of the people. The Priests served the people on behalf of God and were to instruct the people in righteousness. The prophets were to proclaim to the people their sins and bring them to repentance and faithfulness. This didn’t happen! The kings, like Jeroboam, caused Israel to sin. The priests, like Eli’s sons, used their position to enrich themselves at the people’s expense. The prophets prophesied their own message rather than the Word of the LORD, they declared ‘peace’ when there was no peace. This led to the destruction of God’s people.
Here in chapter 34, God will correct this. God himself will be their shepherd. God will search for them and care for them (11-16). God would judge between the sheep that followed and the sheep that rebelled (17-20).
Then God makes an astounding promise: He would set up David to be their prince and would make a covenant of peace with them. Under this David, God’s people would be blessed, their yoke would be broken and they would be delivered from their enemy (24-31). We must wait 500 years to see God’s promise fulfilled.
Jesus, the son of David comes (Matt. 1:1). He is the good shepherd (John 10, 1 Pet. 5:1). He is the king of kings with all authority on heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18-19; Rev. 17:14). In Him we find peace (John 14:27; 16:33; Eph. 2:14). In Him we have our burdens lifted and our sins forgiven.
God has given His people shepherds to guide and protect. They appointed elders in every church (Acts 14:23). These can be viewed as ‘under-shepherds’ to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd. Peter admonishes such men: “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:1-4).
God has been faithful in His promise of a good shepherd. Now, those who would serve Him by shepherding HIS flock must be faithful and diligent. Good shepherds are a blessing from God, bad ones will be judged by God.
Hugh DeLong
