Ezekiel 34

CHAPTER 34

Shepherds and Sheep (34:1–31)

1–10 Ezekiel is told to prophesy against the shepherds (the rulers and leaders) of Israel (verse 2). These shepherds had put their own welfare before the welfare of the sheep⁷⁵ (the people). They had not searched for those who were lost (see Matthew 18:12–14); rather, they had let them be scattered (verses 4–5). The sheep had become food for wild animals (enemy nations).

Therefore, says the Lord, “I am against the shepherds, and I will remove them from tending the flock” (verse 10).

11–16 Here the Lord gives a word of great encouragement to the exiled Israelites: “I myself will search for my sheep . . . I myself will tend them” (verses 11,15). The Lord Himself is the good shepherd (John 10:1115); He will gather His sheep and bring them into their own land (verse 13).

The Good Shepherd is also a just shepherd; He will shepherd the flock with justice (verse 16). That means He will judge the sleek and the strong, those that have oppressed the other sheep and trampled on their rights.

17–24 Thus the Lord will judge between one sheep and another (verse 17)—between the fat sheep and the lean sheep (verse 20). The “fat sheep” are the ones that have oppressed the others, and therefore the Lord will protect the “lean sheep.” The Lord will appoint an “assistant shepherd” to tend the sheep—namely His servant David (verse 23), that is, a descendant of David, someone like David. That person, of course, was the Messiah.

The Lord refers to His “servant David” as a prince among the people (verse 24). God’s kingdom is a theocracy: He is the King in heaven; the Messiah is the “prince” on earth. But when Christ came, it was revealed that the heavenly King and the earthly “prince” were really one—God the Father, God the Son (John 10:30).

25–31 Finally, the Lord says that He will make a covenant of peace ⁷⁶ with the people (verse 25). This “covenant of peace” is basically the new covenant described by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8:8–12). These verses look forward to the climax of the Messianic age, when all God’s covenant promises will be fulfilled during the reign of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This is why Christians look forward to Christ’s second coming, for it is then that all the blessings described in these verses will be fully realized.⁷⁷ At that time, all believers will be secure in God’s pasture (verse 31).