Ezekiel 34:1-24, Jehovah, my shepherd

Ezekiel 34:1-24, Jehovah, my shepherd

 Chapter 34 is a word to look to Jehovah God, the shepherd, and Jesus Christ, the true shepherd who will come. Today, from verses 1-24, God makes us look to Jehovah God, the shepherd, and Jesus Christ, who came as a descendant of David.

1. God judges the shepherds (kings, priests, prophets) and the sheep (1-10)

 They only feed themselves and do not strengthen the weak sheep, do not heal the sick, do not bandage the injured, do not bring back the driven, and do not seek the lost (4).

 God judges the injustice among the sheep (17-22). The sheep consider it a small thing to eat the good pasture and drink the clean water. They trample the remaining pasture with their feet and contaminate the remaining water with their feet. God judges these unrighteous sheep. Also, the sheep push other sheep with their sides and shoulders, and hit the sick with their horns and scatter them. But God saves them and takes care of them so that they do not become prey.

 Human leaders and sheep can fail. However, God, the shepherd, seeks the lost, brings back the chased, bandages the wounded, and strengthens the sick (16). Let us look to God, the shepherd, in our lives today and live as good sheep.

2. God himself becomes the shepherd to all the sheep (11-16).

 Jehovah, the shepherd, does eight things (11-16). 1) He searches for the flock (11) 2) He keeps the flock (12) 3) He brings them out among the peoples (13). 4) He gathers them from among the nations (13). 5) He brings them to their own land (13). 6) He feeds them in good pasture and fattening pasture (14). 7) He will set them on a high mountain (14) 8) He will lay them in a good fold (15).

 He seeks and finds his own sheep. He cares for and loves the sheep (11), saves them (12), looks after them (13), and feeds them (14-15).
 Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  Let us meditate on David’s confession.
 *Do you live acknowledging that God Himself is your shepherd? Let us live today with the Lord as our shepherd.

3. He establishes his servant David as a shepherd (23-24)

 God establishes his servant David as a shepherd to feed the sheep (23-24). It has been over 400 years since King David died. The shepherd David refers to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the eternal king and good shepherd, sacrificed his life for us (John 10:11,15). “11."I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 15."just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

 He is with us even now, caring for us and guiding us.

 Saints, let us confess, like David, that the Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23:1), and live following and obeying Him. Let us remember that we are God’s sheep, and let us strive to be good sheep who care for and serve one another. First, I bless you to become blessed sheep and saints who live for God and His kingdom and His righteousness.