Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel

 

Ezekiel 34:1-10

 

January 22, 2024

 

Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness, you have ruled them.  So, they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

 

“Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:  As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:  Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

 

I was recently at a funeral and I saw two signs at the building where the Church gathers to worship, both were signs that reminded me of what God is saying to Ezekiel about the shepherds.  The signs were in a prime parking place and they said Senior Pastor Parking and Senior Pastor Wives Parking.  Now I do not know how anyone else feels about that but I sent them to my pastor, as a joke, and asked where his sign and his wife's signs were, a quick reply, servants do not have special parking.  In fact, at Oakwood, the staff from the senior pastor down is required to park on Sundays away from the building to give others better parking.  

 

Does God have anything to say about being a shepherd, and what are their duties? Yes, Jesus tells us in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  Jesus is the head Shepherd, but what those who are called to pastor, and teach, has the Scriptures given them direction?  It does, in 1 Peter 5:1-6, “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:  shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

If you have been called by God to the role of shepherd, you are blessed but remember your calling is not to be dictatorial or too dominant, but to preach the Word in season and out of season.  You are a guide, not the center of attention, you live a life that others will follow, and you love and forgive as Jesus has done.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice