1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 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?
3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
4 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.
5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
6 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.
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
8 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;
9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
10 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.
11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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?
19 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.
20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
23 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.
24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
25 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.
26 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.
27 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.
28 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.
29 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.
30 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.
31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
The 34th chapter of the Book of Ezekiel is a potent narrative that focuses on the theme of leadership, specifically the shepherds of Israel. The shepherds in this context are the leaders of the people, both religious and political. The chapter is a prophetic indictment of their leadership, or lack thereof, and a promise of God's intervention to rescue and restore His people. This chapter is particularly significant as it underscores God's concern for His people and His commitment to their well-being despite the failures of human leadership.
Ezekiel 34 opens with a divine mandate for Ezekiel to prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. These shepherds, entrusted with the care and guidance of God's people, have instead exploited and neglected them. Their self-centered leadership has led to the scattering and suffering of the flock. The shepherds have fed themselves, clothed themselves, and cared for only the strong of the flock, disregarding the diseased, the sick, the broken, and the lost. This is a powerful critique on the corrupt and selfish leadership that fails to meet the needs of the people they are meant to serve.
"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?" (Ezekiel 34:2, KJV)
The chapter continues with God's promise to intervene on behalf of His people. He declares that He will remove these failed shepherds and He Himself will shepherd His flock. This divine intervention reflects God's commitment to His people and His desire for their welfare. In the face of failed human leadership, God promises to step in, to gather His scattered people, to feed them on rich pasture, and to ensure their security.
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." (Ezekiel 34:11, KJV)
In the latter part of Ezekiel 34, God promises to set up over His people "one shepherd", a descendant of David. This shepherd would care for the people, and they would know peace and security. This prophecy points to the future advent of Jesus Christ, often referred to as the Good Shepherd. This section of the chapter underscores God's plan for messianic redemption and the establishment of the Davidic covenant.
"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." (Ezekiel 34:23, KJV)
Ezekiel 34 is a chapter of profound theological and historical significance. It reveals the heart of God towards His people, His commitment to their well-being, and His judgment against those who exploit and neglect them. It challenges the notions of leadership, underscoring the necessity of selflessness, care, and responsibility. Furthermore, it points to the ultimate expression of divine leadership in the person of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who would lay down His life for His sheep.
The chapter is a potent reminder of God's unfailing love and care for His people. Despite the failure of human leadership, God does not abandon His people. Instead, He promises to intervene, to gather, to feed, to heal, and to provide for them. This divine commitment is seen in God's promise to replace the failed shepherds with His servant David, a promise that is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
In a broader context, Ezekiel 34 is a critique of all forms of leadership that exploit and neglect those they are meant to serve. It is a call to leaders everywhere, irrespective of the context, to serve with integrity, compassion, and selflessness. It is also a promise to those who have been neglected and exploited, that God sees their plight and will intervene on their behalf.
In conclusion, Ezekiel 34 is a powerful narrative that speaks to the heart of leadership, the concern of God for His people, and His commitment to their well-being. It is a critique of failed leadership, a promise of divine intervention, and a prophecy of messianic redemption. It offers hope to the exploited and neglected, challenging leaders to serve with integrity and compassion. Moreover, it underscores the unfailing love and care of God for His people, a theme that is central to the biblical narrative.
This chapter, like the rest of the book of Ezekiel, is a testament to God's faithfulness to His people, His judgment against injustice, and His plan for redemption. It is a vivid illustration of the prophetic role in calling out societal injustices and pointing towards God's ultimate plan for humanity's redemption. In the face of failed human leadership, God's promise stands firm: He will shepherd His people and ensure their well-being.
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