Ezekiel 34:11

Ezekiel 34:11 says, For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.  God said that He was going to search for His sheep.  God still calls on everyone to become a part of His flock, or family, today and He seeks them out if they are already a part of His family and are being led astray by false preachers and teachers.  Though a preacher or teacher may proclaim something other than God’s word, He will always let people know His truth, so they cannot just blame it on those who are proclaiming something other than His word.  As Christians, we should study the Bible under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and if we do, we will never be led astray.   

Verse twelve adds, As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.  God said that just as a true shepherd sought his sheep if they were scattered that He was going to seek His sheep that had been scattered.  If we stray from God’s word, He is always going to be seeking us and calling us back to Him.   

Verse thirteen continues, And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.  God said that He was going to seek His lost sheep, the people of Isreal who had been scattered and bring them once more to the promised land, and that then He would care for them if they were obedient to Him.  I don’t believe that He was going to do this just because of where they were born, but because of their covenant relationship with Him.  God is one day going to call all His people, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, home to heaven.  It will not matter what part of the world they may be in.  

Verse fourteen states, I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.  God said that He was going to provide a good pasture for His sheep or meet the needs of His people in other words.  God will always care for those who are His people and one day will call them home to heaven, the final promised land.   

Verse fifteen adds, I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.  God said when He called His sheep home that He would cause then to lie down in peace.  We may never reach that point in the world today, but when God calls us home, we will live in everlasting security.  

Verse sixteen continues, I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.  God said He was going to care for those who were His sheep, even if they had been broken and were sick because of their mistreatment.  We may suffer in the world because of our belief in God, but one day He will heal us from all our suffering, and we will live in everlasting security.  Those who had grown fat from the suffering of His people would be destroyed or sent away to everlasting destruction.  In both cases, it will depend on the person’s relationship with God and not on any earthly factor. 

Ezekiel 34:7

Ezekiel 34:7 says, Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; God called on the shepherds, those who were supposed to be leading the people of Israel by God’s commandments to hear His word.  The shepherds, or pastors, of those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, the people of God today, should always hear God’s word if they are going to proclaim the truth.   

Verse eight adds, As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;  God said that His sheep had become the prey of the beasts of the field because His shepherds had not defended them but only looked to enrich themselves.  They also didn’t look for the lost sheep but were only concerned with themselves.  I believe this is a warning to preachers today that they need to be concerned with guiding their congregation according to God’s word and not be interested in just enriching themselves.   

Verse nine continues, Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;  God once more called on the shepherds to hear His word, this time as a warning to them about their disobedience.  I believe that God will always warn Christian leaders today if they are proclaiming something other than His truth and are more interested in their wealth than they are in their congregation and teaching them the truth of God's word.   

Verse ten concludes, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.  God told the shepherds that He was against them because of their disobedience to His word and that He would deliver the flock from their mistreatment of them.  If followers of Christ are listening to God, they will know when a preacher or teacher is proclaiming something other than God’s word, and He will lead them away from that person if they will only listen. 

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.