Ezekiel 34:1

 Ezekiel 34:1 says, And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,  Again, we aren't told exactly when this was as we sometimes are.   

Verse two adds, 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?  God then had a message for the shepherds of Israel.  He said that they were more interested in feeding themselves than they were in caring for their sheep.  This was really a prophecy against the rulers of Israel, who were supposed to shepherd the people and put their welfare above their own.  The same can be said of preachers today, and I believe even of government officials, who should put the welfare of those they are over above their own welfare.   

Verse three continues, Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.  God said that the shepherds ate the fat of the sheep and used their wool to make clothes for themselves, and they killed those who couldn’t be of service to them.  They failed to feed the sheep, which were the source of their comfort.  Some rulers today only care about what is best of themselves and have little or no concern for those they are in a position of power over.   

Verse four states, 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.  Still comparing the leaders of Israel to shepherd, God said they had failed completely in carrying out their duties.  They didn’t take care of the sick, bind the limbs that were broken or seek those that had gone astray.  Taking care of the poor and seeking those who have gone astray is the responsibility of the shepherd of God’s people today, but they are often more interested in what will enrich themselves than they are in caring for the poor and reaching out to those who have gone astray.  I also believe this can apply to governmental leaders in the world today.   

Verse five adds, And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.  God said that when there was no shepherd that the sheep were scattered and became food for the wild beasts.  If the shepherd of the flock of God’s people is not carrying out his responsibility, those that he is responsible for may be scattered into the world and fall prey to many false teachings.   

Verse six continues, 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.   God said that His flock, the people of Israel, were scattered everywhere and no one sought them.  Even though lost people are not a part of God’s flock or people, as Christians it is our responsible to seek all those who are lost and invite them into the family of God.  Also, if a Christian goes astray, we are to seek them and call them back into God’s way. 

Ezekiel 33:30

Ezekiel 33:30 says, Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord.  God also said that all the people were speaking against Ezekiel.  Those who professed to obey God would mock Ezekiel. They would ask Him to speak God’s word to them while still believing that what he was saying was wrong.  There are still many people today who profess to be followers of Christ who mock anyone who proclaims what God’s word says. 

Verse thirty-one adds, And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.  God continues to tell Ezekiel that the people would come and sit and hear what he had to say but that they would not do what he told them God said they needed to do.  They would pay lip service to what Ezekiel said, but they wouldn’t really believe what he said.  Once more, many people pay lip service to God today, but they don’t live by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.   

Verse thirty-two continues, And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.  God told Ezekiel that his words were like a lovely song, but they had no real meaning to the people of Israel.  They heard what he had to say, but it didn’t change how they acted.  Many people today may hear what preachers have to say and think that it sounds wonderful, but it doesn’t cause them to change the way they live by believing in God and His law.   

Verse thirty-three concludes, And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.  God told Ezekiel that when what he had been prophesying came to pass that the people would then know that there had been a prophet among them, but it would be too late to save them.  When Jesus Christ returns in judgment, everyone will know that what His people have been proclaiming is the truth, but it will be too late to do them any good.  

Ezekiel 33:25

Ezekiel 33:25 states, Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?  Ezekiel was to remind the people of Israel how they had turned away from God’s commandments.  They were eating the blood of animals, which was against God’s law and worshipping idols, which definitely against God’s law.  We are not under dietary restrictions, but we must always be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s guidance if we are live successfully in our covenant relationship with God.  Ezekiel was also to ask them since they were disobeying God if they thought they should possess the promised land.  If we have not obeyed God's commandment that we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord to have a home in heaven, how do we think that we can if we don't?    

Verse twenty-six adds, Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?  God said that they were living by the power of the sword instead of by their faith in God’s power.  Also, many of them were committing adultery with their neighbor's wife.  We may believe that we can stand by the power of our military, but God can easily take that away from us. Also, sexual impurity seems to be rampant in the world today, often between members of the church.  Too often, other Christians do not condemn this as they should.   

Verse twenty-seven continues, Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.  God told Ezekiel to tell the people of Israel that He was going to destroy them because of their disobedience to their covenant relationship with Him.  Those in the wastes, which Matthew Henry says refers to the cities, were going to die by the sword.  Those in the field would be devoured by wild beasts.  God doesn’t need an army to destroy anyone but can do it by natural means.  Those who thought they were safe by hiding in forts and caves would be destroyed by petulance, or once more by God’s control of His world. We may not be defeated by an army today if we fail to live by God’s word, but we will be destroyed spiritually by His power if we don’t.   

Verse twenty-eight states, For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.  God said that He was going to make the land of Israel most desolate and that there would be no one left to pass through it.  One day, the world will be desolate of all people and those who have not put their faith in Jesus Christ will be sent away to everlasting punishment.   

Verse twenty-nine adds, Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.  God said that when He laid their land most desolate that they would know that He is God, but it would be too late for it to do them any good.  When God’s judgment comes, everything that we have put our faith in other than Him will be made desolate.  When this happens, everyone will know that He is God, but for too many it will be too late.