Ezekiel 34

Chapters 34-39 of Ezekiel prophesy the restoration of Israel.  There are some specific prophesies that clearly are in the “not yet fulfilled” category.  It begins with this judgment on the wicked shepherds of Israel and the promise that God Himself will shepherd His people through the Son of David.

Israel’s shepherds were the leaders including prophets, priests and the house of David.  They are condemned as woeful shepherds because they failed to properly care for the sheep while they themselves became fat off of the sheep (v1-10).  They did not feed the flock, strengthen the weak, heal the sick (diseased), bind up the broken, bring back those who were driven away by other sheep, nor seek the lost that strayed away.

The result was that the sheep were scattered and became food for wild beasts (v5-6).  Therefore God utters the same fearful words He had said to the wicked of the nations: “I am against you!” (v10).  This passage is the basis for Matthew 23, Luke 15:1-7 and John 9:39-10:30 where Jesus judges the wicked shepherds of Israel in His own day.

In Ezekiel 34:11-22 God paints a picture of the “Good Shepherd”.   He will care for the flock that the wicked shepherds have fleeced.  God will seek them out (v12), bringing them back from the nations to the feed in the Promised Land (v13).  He will do what the wicked shepherds did not do (v16).  And he will make sure the bigger, stronger sheep do not take advantage of the weaker ones (v17-22).  This is the Shepherd of Ps. 23.

How God does this specifically involves two tremendous realities.  First God will personally be their Shepherd (v23-24).  This He will do through the Messiah who is God in the flesh.  The language here is specific, that a descendent of David will be the “prince” among them when the Messiah reigns.  This will be seen more clearly when we come to the closing chapters of Ezekiel.

Second God will establish a “covenant of peace” with Israel (v25-31).  This covenant will bring about great physical blessing because it will establish Israel in a true relationship with God.  This “covenant of peace” is none other than the promised “new covenant” of Jer. 31:31-33.

This passage has constant application at all times, including our own day.  It is grievous the way, in the body of Christ, there are shepherds who simply want to have the public ministry of teaching and preaching but do not want to become involved in the lives of sheep who are broken or diseased with sin or being driven away by false teaching.  They place burdens on the people but will not lift a finger to help them bear that burden (Mt. 23:4).  So often these woeful shepherds are making a grand living off the sheep without caring for the sheep.  Every leader is a shepherd; this passage has made it clear what God values in shepherds.  May we “hear and fear” the Lord!