Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 34

Verses 1-31

Ezekiel 34:1-31 Sanctification The theme of the preceding passage (Ezekiel 33:1-33) was on restoring righteousness to the children of Israel. For those who would repent and obey God’s word, there was the need for sanctification; and this is the theme of Ezekiel 34:1-31. God’s divine plan to sanctify His people was to place shepherds among them to lead and guide them daily. Because these shepherds failed to strengthen God’s people, He was going to judge them and place a true shepherd over them, which is a prophecy of the coming of their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 34:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 34:2 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?

Ezekiel 34:2 Scripture References - Note a similar passage:

Jeremiah 23:1, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.”

Ezekiel 34:3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

Ezekiel 34:4 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.

Ezekiel 34:4 Comments - A shepherd’s duty is to pray for the flock fervently (Matthew 10:8, Luke 4:18, John 14:12).

Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

We can do this because 1 John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Illustration:

Luke 8:1-3, “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”

Ezekiel 34:5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

Ezekiel 34:5 Scripture Reference - Note:

Matthew 9:36, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Ezekiel 34:10 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.

Ezekiel 34:10 “for I will deliver my flock from their mouth” - Comments - How? God will feed the shepherds with judgment (Ezekiel 34:16), and He will raise up a new shepherd, “David” (Ezekiel 34:24).

Ezekiel 34:16, “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 .”

Ezekiel 34:24, “And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them ; I the LORD have spoken it.”

Ezekiel 34:16 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.

Ezekiel 34:16 Comments - The shepherds’ food is judgment from above, from God Almighty.

Ezekiel 34:17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.

Ezekiel 34:18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?

Ezekiel 34:18 Comments - The shepherds lusted after the best, and did not want the sheep to have anything good.

Ezekiel 34:22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.

Ezekiel 34:20-22 Comments God Himself Will Judge - Ezekiel 34:20-22 makes the last mention of the shepherds. God’s judgment is hard and sure.

Ezekiel 34:24 Comments - The Jews were looking for a restored kingdom and a king of the lineage of David who would again rule over them. Therefore, the title “My servant David, a prince among them” is given to Jesus Christ so that they can identify with the Messiah, Jesus Christ, when He comes to be their king. In contrast, to the Gentiles the Messiah was not the son of David, but rather, the Saviour of the World.