(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 34:1-31)

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 

What have we done? Called to shepherd the people of God, yet rather than caring for the sheep, we only care for ourselves. This is relevant for the church today as we see so many pastors fall in shame, that refuse to lift a finger for the needy, that just want to keep things same ‘ole, same ‘ole, and don’t see or care about the lost that need to be found.

This was relevant for the Pharisees and Sadducees during Jesus’ time as well. Caring more about their appearance, how they were portrayed, rather than being a spiritual physician to those who were sick. This is relevant to the shepherds of Israel, the ones that God had placed in their midst to be spiritual leaders, and to serve as a mediator for the people and God, but rather were just as fallen as the people they were called to serve.

No longer will the Lord wait for these fallen spiritual leaders, but the Lord will take things into His own hands.

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Yes, we are disappointed when we see a church leader fall, and although perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us anymore, yet it still does. We think that it is another church, another congregation, that wouldn’t happen to our beloved pastor, elder, deacon, small group leader, etc. Yet it does happen, time after time after time.

What have we done? It was a higher calling, no higher calling than being called to lead God’s sheep, yet the burden could only be carried by one man, and that man, is Jesus Christ. He is the good shepherd, the one that cares for His sheep, the one that knows His sheep, and is known by His sheep. His is the voice they should hear, listen to, and obey, and He came to seek and save the lost. Clouds and darkness surround the world, but in a day of hopelessness, hope still abounds.

17 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

Yes, our spiritual leaders have fallen, but yet the Lord extends His hand to seek and save the lost. He is the good shepherd, and He will look after His scattered flock. However, with the Lord as our shepherd, will we hear His voice and come to Him, or will we be like the fallen spiritual leaders and turn away from the Lord in the midst of our trials? Will we seek our own wisdom, help from the powers of this world, and value what should not be valued?

Yes, we once blamed those that were leading us, that didn’t live up to our expectations, but even when the Lord sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the shepherd that would not fail us, we decided to no longer trust in Him, because we still had our own misplaced expectations.

What have we done?

31 You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.'”

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezekiel 34