Ezekiel 34:1-31

Leadership is a responsibility God entrusts to men as a means of meeting the needs of His people.  He calls leaders to set an example for others to follow and to serve those who are under their care.  He equips leaders and He expects leaders to use their resources in order to meet the needs of His people.  In this passage, Ezekiel compares Israel’s leaders to shepherds and He calls the children of Israel sheep.  Since the shepherds have been selfish and unfaithful, the sheep are neglected and rebellious.  A shepherd will always be evaluated by the condition of the sheep under his care.  People will almost always reflect the character of their leaders.  This is why leadership is such a great responsibility and why leaders will be severely judged by God.  A leader has an impact far beyond his own life.  

GOD’S REJECTION OF ISRAEL’S SHEPHERDS: The shepherds of Israel most likely refer to both the political as well as spiritual leaders.  The kings and princes of Israel were corrupt and led the people into the practice of idolatry.  The priests of Israel were negligent and superficial in their tasks and turned a blind eye to all that was going on in order to please men and retain power.  The prophets of Israel abandoned the task of proclaiming God’s Word and just told the people whatever they wanted to hear.  Popularity was much more important to them than truth.  The leaders abused their positions of power and became rich off of the people’s taxes, fat of the people’s sacrifices and comfortable in their own sin.  As a result of this ungodly leadership, the people were disobedient to the Word of God, unrestrained in their perversity and idolatry, suffering under God’s judgment and in danger of being consumed by their enemies.  When people rebel against the Lord they will be judged accordingly, but if their leaders have been negligent, they too will face severe judgment.

GOD’S REPLACEMENT OF ISRAEL’S SHEPHERDS: Because the leaders in Israel have been so corrupt, and sinful God is going to bring judgment down on the entire nation.  The leaders will be removed from power, killed in battle; taken captive as slaves and most importantly stand condemned before God.  The people will also be scattered and many of them will be killed by diseases or by foreign armies.  The sheep and the shepherds will all experience the judgment of God.  However, this judgment is simply God’s means of taking over as the Shepherd of His people.  He will discipline them, but then He will gather them to himself, heal their wounds and provide for their needs.  This is a picture of what Christ has done in His first coming.  He came to us to seek and to save.  He paid the price for our sin.  He calls us to be His followers.  He places us within His body and calls us to be under shepherds that call others to come and be a part of the family.

GOD’S RESTORATION OF ISRAEL’S SHEEP: The result of God’s shepherding is a stark contrast to the work of Israel’s leaders.  He will judge the sheep who have been selfish and rebellious, He will provide for all of the sheep who have been sick, hungry and thirsty because of the neglect of the former shepherds and the sinfulness of the men around them.  Ungodly leaders and rebellious men may prosper for a season, but God will call them to account.  When Christ returns for the second time; He will judge the hearts of all men and condemn or reward them in accordance with their trust of Him or their evil works.  Once and for all the evil and rebellious men will be judged and forever removed from the presence of God’s people.  Jesus will reign over all who have trusted in Him and He will fulfill all that the prophets of God had proclaimed concerning the nation of Israel and the children of God.  Jesus will restore the hearts of men to the Father and He will judge the rebellious who have rejected Him.  We must do all we can to prepare for that glorious day.