EZEKIEL LESSON 36
We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 34:1 "And the word of the
LORD came unto me, saying,"
This, again, is a brand new prophecy. Ezekiel turns from the
people, to their leaders who have the greatest guilt.
Ezekiel 34:2 "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?"
We first ought to look at who the shepherds are. The shepherds of
the Jews were their civil leaders, as well as their spiritual leaders.
We know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd, and we also
know, that ministers who are subordinate to Him are shepherds. These
Scriptures have a meaning for the Jews and the Christians, as well.
We will try to look at both, as we go along. The very beginning of
these verses is a reprimand for not caring for the sheep. The kings
then, and the preachers now, must be careful to feed the sheep. That
is the primary job of a shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:3 "Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye
kill them that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock."
This speaks of those who take from the sheep and give nothing. We
see in some churches today, that ministers are living far above the
conditions of their people. It is alright to live good, but it should
be the first concern of the shepherd to care for the sheep.
Ezekiel 34:4 "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."
Some of us treat the church as if it is a hotel for saints, and
not a hospital for sinners. Mark 2:17 "When Jesus heard [it], he saith
unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they
that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance." Those whose spirits are sick need us. The weak sheep
need more care than the healthy ones. A good shepherd keeps his sheep
together with love, patience, and kindness, not by driving them. Jesus
told the parable about the shepherd that left the 99, and went to find
that 1 that was lost. The 23rd Psalm describes the good Shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:5 "And they were scattered, because [there is] no
shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when
they were scattered."
When the flock is divided it is easy prey for the wolves. They
get one sheep off from the others, and kill him. This is true of the
church. Together we stand, divided we fall. The wolf is not afraid of
the sheep, but he is afraid of the shepherd. The shepherd drives the
wolf away, and saves the sheep. In the verse above, there is no
shepherd. The sheep are easy prey. This is why a Christian needs
fellowship in a church with other Christians, and to be under the care
of a pastor. There is safety in the numbers, and the pastor protects
the single member. The pastor is protector and guide.
Ezekiel 34:6 "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]."
To hold a civil office, or an office in a church, carries with it
a grave responsibility. We should not take the office, if we have not
weighed the cost and are willing to sacrifice to do a good job. The
lost of the world today are like these sheep on the mountain. We must
go and get them. To be saved yourself is wonderful, but God called His
workers to seek out the lost. How can they be saved without hearing?
They must hear the Word of God to be saved.
Ezekiel 34:7 "Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the
LORD;"
This is not just an idle statement, but a warning to the
ministers of today, and to the leaders of the Jews then.
Ezekiel 34:8 "[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;"
All who work in the ministry, should be ministering because God
called them to that task, not as a way of making a living. Of course,
you must have a living, but it should not be your reason for accepting
a certain job. The food that the minister of God must bring the flock,
is the pure Word of God. The Word cannot be watered down, or it will
not nourish the sheep. The sheep will not be in much danger of
straying away, when they are well fed. When they know the Word of God,
they are not as easily drawn away to false prophets.
Ezekiel 34:9 "Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the
LORD;"
The importance of the message is seen by repeating who it is to.
Ezekiel 34:10 "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."
God will not allow a leader to go on, who does not care for the
people. Those shepherds, who do not care for the sheep, will be
replaced by some who do care for the sheep. The owner {God} does not
want to lose his sheep. The key word, in the verse above, is mouth. He
will deliver them from his mouth. These are words he is delivering
them from. The false prophet will say anything to fleece his own
pocket. He is not interested in the sheep. They have not brought God's
message to these people, so God will require them at the false
prophets hand.
Ezekiel 34:11 "For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I,
will both search my sheep, and seek them out."
God will search Israel out and restore her to her homeland. God
will, also, seek out an individual sinner and bring him into His
kingdom.
Ezekiel 34:12 "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."
This is specifically speaking of the house of Israel, which is
scattered as captives in foreign lands. It is, also, speaking of the
Lord bringing His sheep into the church. Acts 2:17 "And it shall come
to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon
all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"
Ezekiel 34:13 "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."
Babylon will be destroyed, and God's people will come home to
their promised land. It is God who frees them. The land of Israel
will, again, be a land of milk and honey. With God's blessings upon
it, it will flourish.
Ezekiel 34:14 "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."
This is speaking of the beautiful pasture land where the
shepherds tended their sheep. The 23rd Psalm gives a really good
example of what this Scripture says. Israel will be restored to their
God and His protection, as well as being restored to their land. The
land would be no good without the blessings of God upon it.
Ezekiel 34:15 "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie
down, saith the Lord GOD."
The "lying down" speaks of peace. God brings them peace, as well
as supplying their needs. He feeds their bodies and spirits. It will
happen, because God promised it. This is like the grace that He gives
the Christian. "Grace" means unmerited favor. This is what they
received, and it is what the Christian receives, as well.
Ezekiel 34:16 "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."
The "fat" in the Scripture, here, is speaking of the shepherd who
took everything for himself. The fat and the strong are speaking of
those who have abused others, to get what they wanted. The sick and
broken are speaking of those who needed a Saviour. This is that
judgement day, when God separates the sheep, which belong to Him, from
the goats.
Ezekiel 34:17 "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."
We may all appear to be the same, but God knows the difference.
It will not be outward appearance that we are judged by, but by what
is in our hearts. Let us see what Jesus said about the wicked
shepherd. Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"
Matthew 7:23 "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Ezekiel 34:18 "[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?"
These are shepherds who have taken big salaries, and lived in
huge homes, and driven expensive cars, when their people were just
barely scraping a living. They had taken the best for themselves, and
let some of their people go hungry.
Ezekiel 34:19 "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."
They have fed the flock with messages they had ruined. They had
altered the food God provided. They have actually trampled on the Word
of God. Then, they fed it to the sheep.
Ezekiel 34:20 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them;
Behold, I, [even] I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the
lean cattle."
On judgement day, the judgement is just, because Jesus is the
Righteous Judge.
Ezekiel 34:21 "Because ye have thrust with side and with
shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have
scattered them abroad;"
This is pure and simple oppression of the rich over the poor. It
could be those in high authority taking advantage of those who are of
low estate. This would be those who are poor being removed out of
social churches. "Horns" symbolize power.
Ezekiel 34:22 "Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no
more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle."
The fact that it says the cattle and cattle, just means they are
supposed to all be Israelites. Some will be saved, and some will not.
This, also, is speaking of those who call themselves Christians. Not
all who call themselves Christians will be saved. Matthew 7:21 "Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven."
Ezekiel 34:23 "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."
This is speaking of that great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In John chapter 10 verses 1 through 18, we see who the servant David,
mentioned here, is. I will give just one verse. Jesus calls Himself
the good Shepherd in the next verse. John 10:11 "I am the good
shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." Read all
of it to get a more full idea. Jesus is that One Shepherd. His entire
concern was for His sheep.
Ezekiel 34:24 "And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant
David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken [it]."
Jesus opened the way to the Father for each of us, when He gave
His body on the cross. The veil in the temple in Jerusalem rent from
the top to the bottom, giving all believers in Christ access to the
Father. Christ took on Himself the form of a servant on the earth. He
is that promised King that will reign forever. Jesus Christ purchased
us with His precious blood, and we are now sons of God, if we believe.
Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the
sons of God." Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
Ezekiel 34:25 "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."
The covenant of peace is actually a gift offered to man. The old
covenant has failed, because mankind did not obey God. The new
covenant is the covenant of grace. We remember in previous lessons,
how Israel had trouble during the siege with the wild animals. There
will, now, be peace. Their safety is provided by God.
Ezekiel 34:26 "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."
God controls the elements. It rains, when He tells it to. The
blessings of God are now upon them, so the rain and the sunshine will
come just at the right time for the crops to flourish. All good gifts
come from God.
Ezekiel 34:27 "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."
God's blessings are back upon them. God will, again, be their
protection. They are His people and He will pour out blessing on them,
as He has done in the past. His anger is gone. He loves them as a
Father loves a son.
Ezekiel 34:28 "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."
The enemy will not come against them now, because the enemy is
afraid of Israel's God. The only time the beasts, or the heathen,
could attack them before, was when God took His protection away. His
protection is back now. They are His people, and He is their God.
Ezekiel 34:29 "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."
This "plant of renown" could have been speaking of Jesus as the
Branch. It could, also, be speaking of the abundant food supply they
would have, now that they are back in good graces with God. Many had
starved during the famine, when Babylon attacked them. There will be
plenty to eat now.
Ezekiel 34:30 "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."
They were His people, even when they were in captivity in
Babylon. He was chastising them as a Father does a misbehaving child.
They had been unfaithful. Now, all of that is forgotten. God has
forgiven them, and taken them back.
Ezekiel 34:31 "And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, [are]
men, [and] I [am] your God, saith the Lord GOD."
This leaves no doubt that the sheep were speaking of God's
people. They must choose to be His people, and He will be their God.
Ezekiel 36 Questions
1. In this prophecy, Ezekiel turns to the __________.
2. Prophecy against the __________ of Israel.
3. Who was this for the Jews?
4. Who is the Great Shepherd for the Christians?
5. Who are the shepherds under him?
6. What is the primary job of the shepherd?
7. What is verse 3 speaking of?
8. What was the complaint against these shepherds in verse 4?
9. Quote Mark chapter 2 verse 17.
10. What chapter, in the Bible, describes the Good Shepherd best?
11. What had happened to Israel, because she had no shepherd?
12. What should you do, before taking a high office?
13. Why should you choose to be a minister?
14. What is the food the minister should feed the flock with?
15. Why is God taking the sheep from these shepherds?
16. What is the key word in verse 10?
17. Who owns the sheep?
18. God seeks the sheep out as what?
19. Quote Acts chapter 2 verse 17.
20. What does the "lying down" in verse 15 symbolize?
21. What does "grace" mean?
22. Quote Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 through 23.
23. What is verse 19 saying to us?
24. Who is the Righteous Judge?
25. Quote John chapter 10 verse 11.
26. How did Jesus open the way to the Father for us?
27. Quote Romans chapter 8 verses 14 and 15.
28. The new covenant is the covenant of ________.
29. Why will the enemy not come against Israel?
30. What two could the "plant of renown" be?
31. The flock of my pasture are ______.
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