the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
Ezekiel 34:1-16
This chapter condemns in a most severe way the bad shepherds (kings, princes and rulers of the people). Not only did they not take care of the sheep that were weak, sick, wounded or gone astray, but they themselves grew fat at the expense of Israel’s flock. Without fear of God, and without love for His people, they acted as if the latter belonged to them, "being lords over God’s heritage", instead of being "ensamples to the flock" (see 1 Peter 5:2-4). In the face of this total failure, the LORD decides to take care of His sheep Himself. "Behold, I, even I. . .", He declares. We recognise the marvellous love of "the Shepherd of Israel" (Psalms 80:1), emphasised by contrast with the wickedness of the bad shepherds. He promises to stand among His sheep, to save them, to gather them, to feed them "by the rivers", in a "good pasture", to make them lie in a good fold (cf. Psalms 23:1-6). The lost shall be sought, those driven away shall be brought again to the sheepfold, the wounded shall be bound up and the sick strengthened. This concerns the final restoration and blessing of Israel. But what a precious picture of the Lord’s tender care towards each one of His redeemed (read 1 Peter 5:7).
