CHAPTER 34

1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 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? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

Ezekiel has been given prophecy about PEOPLE who refuse to follow "the Word of the Lord." NOW, he is given prophecy concerning PASTORS who do not fulfill their obligations to the "sheep."

First, God says, they "feed THEMSELVES" (Verse 2), and do NOT feed the "flocks!" This is in reference to pastors using their position to ensure self-gratification, but do not care for the people (verse 3).

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. 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. 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.

It is indeed a cruel "shepherd" who is only a dictator. True pastors should:

1. seek healing for those who are ill (especially through prayer,
   
2. try to help those who are "broken" and hurting,
   
3. visit and try to return those who have left,
   
4. and be involved in evangelising the lost.
   

Of course the FIRST obligation of the pastor is to "FEED" the sheep. He is to provide spiritual food which helps them to grow and maintain healthy lifestyles. Some pastors seek only to be entertainers, and fail to be caretakers.

Without providing these five obligations, a person is not a true pastor. Therefore, the flock will be "scattered" (verse 5), and the sheep will "wander" around seeking true spiritual food.

7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 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; 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 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.

Those shepherds (pastors) who fail to care for and properly feed the sheep (people of the church) will receive a great condemnation from the Lord. James says,

"My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (James 3:1)

God says He will "deliver" His "flock from their mouth!" One test of a true pastor is the longevity of his ministry.

11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. 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. 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. 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. 15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. 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.

On the other hand, there are "sheep" who also enjoy self-gratification. True "sheep" really want to hear a strong Word from God. They will seek a pastor who genuinely feeds them spiritual food.

Here, God says He Himself will seek those true sheep. He will lead them, guide them, and provide genuine spiritual food for them.

One who is genuinely seeking God's spiritual food, will be led by the Lord Himself to a place where he can receive such food (verses 13-15).

God is the Initiator of evangelism (verse 16). A genuine pastor, and a genuine church, will be used of the Lord for FINDING the lost and bringing them the joy of the Gospel.

God is also the Initiator of CARING for His people. A genuine pastor, and a genuine church, will be used of the Lord for MINISTERING to the people.

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. 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? 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. 20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. 21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; 22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.

God promises to provide for His people. Some will argue, bite and devour. But God will provide for His own.

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. 24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.

God Himself will provide ONE TRUE SHEPHERD for His people. That true Shepherd is Jesus Christ. If we have a genuine relationship with Him, and are seeking His glory in all that we do, then He will guide us and care for us.

Take close notice of verse 24. It is Jehovah God Who spoke to Ezekiel. It is HE Who is the GENUINE Shepherd. ((See also verse 11))

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.

God has even today made a NEW COVENANT with mankind. That covenant includes His own coming to BE that ONE SHEPHERD! When Christ came to live, die and be resurrected, He fulfilled this Scripture in the forming of the New Covenant.

One day He will also take His sheep to a PERFECT pasture and land (verse 25-26).

There, in that PERFECT place, we will see plentifulness and safety (verses 27-28). None shall ever again know "hunger" (verse 29).

Then, we will know the TRUE nature of a right relationship between a GENUINE PASTOR and His "sheep" (Verses 30-31).

CHAPTER 35

1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 3 And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate. 4 I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel is also to prophecy of the destruction of "Mt. Seir," where the Edomites (descendents of Essau) reside. Obadiah is another prophecy against these proud people.

5 Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end: 6 Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. 7 Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth. 8 And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword. 9 I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 10 Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there: 11 Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee. 12 And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume. 13 Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them. 14 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate. 15 As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Two very strong reasons why God will destroy this people. "Because" (Verse 5) they have exhibited continual "hatred" toward Israel, even though they KNEW that she was God's "chosen nation."

And "Because" (verse 10) they sought to ruin Israel and Judah so that they could inhabit the land.

Friends, one cannot receive the inheritance of God without shedding pride and surrendering to His Lordship! These sought to TAKE the inheritance of God by physical force.

There IS something to be said about TAKING the kingdom of heaven by FORCE. However that "force" is of obtaining God's grace by ANY means! It is a SPIRITUAL force from within a person. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 11:12. He said that people are rushing into the kingdom by FORCE. In other words, they were willing to surrender all that they had and were in order to RECEIVE God's grace and salvation. They desired to have the salvation of God at ANY PRICE - even to lose self in surrender and obedience to Christ.

And, my friends, that is precisely the COST of receiving salvation!

The Edomites were a proud and selfish people. They "boasted" against God (verse 13) and against Israel.

But when God brings eternal salvation to a close at the day of final judgment, the proud and vain will be DESOLATE (verse 14). Yet, those who have surrendered self to Christ will be REJOICING.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.