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The Good Shepherd

Ezekiel 34.11-16, 20-24

Good News Translation (GNT)

11   "I, the Sovereign Lord, tell you that I myself
   will look for my sheep and take care of them
12   in the same way as shepherds take care of
   their sheep that were scattered and are
   brought together again. I will bring them back
   from all the places where they were scattered
   on that dark, disastrous day.
13  I will take them out of foreign countries, gather
   them together, and bring them back to their
   own land. I will lead them back to the
   mountains and the streams of Israel and will
   feed them in pleasant pastures.
14  I will let them graze in safety in the mountain
   meadows and the valleys and in all the green
   pastures of the land of Israel.
15  I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,
   and I will find them a place to rest.
   I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.
16  "I will look for those that are lost, bring back
    those that wander off, bandage those that are
   hurt, and heal those that are sick; but those
   that are fat and strong I will destroy, because
    I am a shepherd who does what is right.

20  "So now, I, the Sovereign Lord, tell you that I
   will judge between you strong sheep and the
   weak sheep.
21  You pushed the sick ones aside and butted
   them away from the flock.
22  But I will rescue my sheep and not let them
   be mistreated any more. I will judge each
   of my sheep and separate the good from the
   bad.
23  I will give them a king like my servant David
   to be their one shepherd, and he will take
   care of them.
24  I, the Lord, will be their God, and a king like
   my servant David will be their ruler.
   I have spoken.

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Taken from 'word-on-the-web' supplied by the
Scripture Union

The people are in exile

'Shepherds with sheep' is used as a frequent image for the king and his people in the Old Testament and on into the New.

It's not unusual in the Old Testament or in other ancient Near Eastern writings for rulers to be described as shepherds.

The people are in exile, scattered like sheep a long way from home and broken in spirit.

Exile is a continuing theme throughout the Bible. It is the punishment that a just and holy God uses to show people that they are not worthy to be in God's presence.

It is not a punishment that God uses lightly. God does not simply abandon people to exile, however.

The leaders in Israel had missed what was essential about being a shepherd - the care of the sheep.

God promises that he himself will come and care for the sheep. He will strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the crippled and seek the lost (v 16).

Ezekiel's detail is particularly profound in its relation to the messianic ministry of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Restoration of his remnant in the land would lead to restoration of the exercise of true kingship - by God directly: 'I myself,' he declares.

And he will gather sheep from many nations into his one flock.

This is underlined by the large number of 'I will' actions in this chapter.

What is striking is the way in which God rolls up his sleeves and himself gets stuck in as the shepherd of his flock.

His commitment is to finding the strays, rescuing the lost, feeding and looking after the whole flock and giving special attention to those that are struggling or sick.

The tenderness and love that runs through these verses is remarkable.

He then addresses his sheep directly, chastising some of them for having made it difficult for others in the flock with too much pushing, head butting and muddying of the waters (vs 18-21).

I will judge between one sheep and another. Some have grown fat at the expense of others.

I will separate the good from the bad. The flock will no longer be plundered.

Ezekiel 34 is the main chapter in the Hebrew Scriptures devoted to the image of the shepherd.

God will raise up a shepherd who is identified with David who will care for the people's needs. (vs 23,24).

Thankfully, he is God and our Shepherd too.

Other versions are available here

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