The Good Shepherd
Ezekiel 34 | October 29 - November 4, 2023
Church family, it is such a joy to be together in fellowship, worship, and studying God’s Word together. To me personally, there is nothing like it. Last week, I had the privilege and opportunity to go to Men’s Retreat. There were over 140 men there striving to be godly fathers, godly husbands, and godly men for Christ and His Kingdom, being sanctified in the Lord’s Word and truth, singing out loud to the Lord Most High, interceding for one another through prayer, and building up and encouraging one another. These men strive to be shepherds and leaders of the assignments that the Lord has given them, whether that be in the home, at work, or out in the community. Pastor Mike’s last message at Men’s Retreat on Psalm 23 was so fitting, The Lord is My Shepherd. In Ezekiel 34:1-10, we see the Lord come to Ezekiel to prophecy against the shepherds of Israel. During that time, the shepherds of Israel had neglected the sheep (which were the people) and provided for themselves, and because of this, the sheep were scattered. Ezekiel 34:5 says, “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered.” The people were not led by the leaders who were assigned to tend and nurture them. These leaders had failed in their role that the Lord had given them, which in turn had devastating effects. The people of Israel became shepherd-less. In Ezekiel 34:11-24, we see God take the role as The Shepherd to restore and rescue His sheep. Ezekiel 34:11-12 says, “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 he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them…” The Lord goes on to say that He will not only seek out the lost, but bring back those who've strayed. He will bind up those who are injured and will strengthen the weak. God will be the true Shepherd who tends to and nurtures His sheep, His people.
Ezekiel 34 ends with one of my personal favorite Messianic prophecies. Ezekiel 34:23-24 says, “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.” God says that one day “my servant David,” which is Jesus, will be the “One Shepherd.” This is a wonderful prophecy talking about the “Good Shepherd” which is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory be to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ who is our Good Shepherd as we see in the Gospel of John. As the shepherds in Ezekiel were selfish, we have a Good Shepherd who is selfless. A Shepherd who has an unconditional love, who is full of compassion, and who has grace upon grace for His sheep. So much so, that He laid down His life for His sheep willfully in all obedience to be the atoning sacrifice on the cross for us, His flock. Jesus says, “I Am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for His sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus goes on to say, “I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). Not only does the Good Shepherd restore and rescues us, but He has an intimate relationship with us.
Church family, you are loved by the Chief Shepherd Jesus Christ who wants to have an intimate relationship with you, who seeks you out when you go astray, who tends to you when you are injured, and who nurtures your every need. What a wonderful example our Good Shepherd is to us. Much like the men at Men’s Retreat who sought to be godly husbands, godly fathers, and godly men who strive to be shepherds and leaders of the assignments that the Lord has given them, we are all given a role of stewardship to shepherd for Christ and His Kingdom. What a great example we have through our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who rescues us, tends to us, protects us, strengthens us, and nurtures us. Because He loves us; His flock.
