Ezekiel’s Good Shepherd Prophecy

"For thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the fountains, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and upon the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on fat pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down,' says the Lord God. 'I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice.'" (Ezekiel 34:11-16, RSV) [Read Ezekiel 34]

Ezekiel 34 is another Messianic prophecy in which the prophet foresees the day when the Lord Himself will be the Good Shepherd, restoring with compassion and every provision necessary His scattered sheep. His people who have been exiled to other lands will be returned to the green pastures of Israel and their good shepherd will be one who guides with mercy and tenderness. The prophet encourages a scattered people with his hope of restoration. God Himself will intervene, end strife and division, and bring the people back to their beloved land, even as a Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. We are reminded when reading this prophecy in Ezekiel 34 of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." We remember the words of the Lord: "I am the good Shepherd" (John 10:14)

Israel (and Judah, considering both kingdoms in the divided period) had endured some poor shepherds, those who had exploited teh people for their own good. Taht was one reason the whole nation was punished and scattered abroad. They had not taken warning of the prophets to repent and change their ways. Like sheep that wander from the fold and become lost, so they had to be punished. The Good Shepherd is not intrested in reestablishing the grandeur of David's and Solomon's powerful kingdoms. Rather, He will come to heal the sick, bind up the broken-hearted, take home those who are lost and wandering, and they will no longer be prey to devouring beasts (or false doctrines). And in that day, when restoration occurs, the Good Shepherd Himself will watch over them, and be their God. This prophecy of Ezekiel was given about 585 B.C., many years before Jesus came. We who are on this side of Jesus' life, ministry, death and resurrection and his declaration as the Good Shepherd have not seen a physically restored kingdom. But we know a spiritual kingdom of belivered, and we look forward to the Second Coming when all will be made right and glorious, as Ezekiel saw it and as our Lord Promised. "Even so come, Lord Jesus" (Revelations 22:20). Amen!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones;