Prayer: Father, there is a lot to unpack into today’s scripture. Not many who are called shepherds function as shepherds. We cannot be what we are not in practice. May the shepherds arise today and be good shepherds to Your flock (people). Amen.
Bible Project: Book of Ezekiel Summary | Watch an Overview Video (Part 2) (bibleproject.com)
Reading: Ezekiel 34 key: vs. 1-6 “The word of Adonai came to me saying: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, thus says Adonai Elohim: “Oy, shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should shepherds not take care of the sheep? You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fat ones. But you do not take care of the sheep. You do not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring back the stray or seek the lost. Instead, you have ruled over them with force and cruelty. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd. They became food for all the beasts of the field as they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill. Over all the face of the earth My sheep were scattered. No one searched. No one sought.” TLV
Attention: Wow. I participated in the institutional church for the first 60+ years of my life. I sat under the instruction of good expositors/orators of the scriptures. All were called pastors. Reflecting over my church experiences, few were pastors. What is the difference between a pastor and a preacher? A pastor lives among the people and cares for them. A preacher gathers weekly to teach and lives a life separated from the people. They have little contact with the congregation (sheep), maybe greeting them prior to or after services. If you get the opportunity in their busy schedule to meet with them, they sit behind their desk. You must come to them; they do not come to you.
The picture which God paints of His shepherds in Israel, is one of opportunism. They exploited all the advantages of their gain from associating with the sheep, nutrition, clothing, financial gain, reputation, control, but they did not care for the sheep. They did not “strengthen the weak” or “heal the sick.” They did not “bind up the broken” or “bring back the stray,” or “seek the lost.” In fact, “they ruled by force and cruelty.” They became what the world calls “collateral damage.” It is the cost of doing business.
What is God’s solution? “So I will set up One Shepherd over them, My servant David—He will tend them, He will feed them Himself and be their shepherd. I, Adonai, will be their God, and My servant David will be Prince among them. I, Adonai, have spoken (Ezekiel 34:23-24).” God will set Himself up as the Great Shepherd and He will establish David as His under-shepherd. We can see this declaration of God as the foundation of Messiah as the Great Shepherd, the One who Shepherds us directly and personally.
Here is what the apostle John records from the teaching of Yeshua, ““I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired worker is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. He sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and flees. Then the wolf snatches and scatters the sheep. The man is only a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep (John 10:11-15).”
I hope that you have experienced the supreme care of the Great Shepherd and the local care of an under shepherd. There is no care like The Great Shepherd gives. Soak in His healing, His comfort, His forgiveness, His seeking us when we were lost, His unfailing heart of Love.
Action: I choose to live in the care of the Great Shepherd!
Yield: I choose to live submitted to the Great Shepherd.
Engaged: I choose to live engaged in the Love of God, manifest in Messiah Yeshua.
Relationship: I choose to live in a lifestyle relationship with Yeshua.
Prayer: Father, I love living in Your care. You are the best Shepherd because You care personally for each one of Your sheep. I know Your voice and I enjoy hearing Your voice. Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalms 23:1-6 “A psalm of David. Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me: Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of Adonai forever.” TLV
Music Video: People & Songs (ft. Josh Sherman)—Psalm 23 https://youtu.be/bpTXb_-sir8?si=iNjndV6bQBebL3Y3
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”