Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24
” ‘ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they are scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
” ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with shank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns, until you have driven them away, I will save my flock and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be their prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.
A Thought
The Lord has pronounced judgement on the Israel’s leaders who have only taken care of themselves and left the people to be scattered without a shepherd at the hand of wild prey. Now the Lord responds saying that he will find and tend the lost sheep by bringing them out of darkness. The lost will be found and will inherit their own land filled with good grazing and rich pastures. The Sovereign Lord will judge between one sheep and another. David will be their shepherd and the Sovereign Lord will be their God.
Our Prayer
Sovereign Lord, thank you for finding us when we were in darkness and bringing us back into your fold. Teach us to hear your voice, to follow you to inherit a land where you will bring justice for all who will be your sheep. Lord, we desire to fully submit to you and your word. Lead us to green pastures with you, we ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
