Ezekiel 34

18, 19. Not content with appropriating to their own use the goods of others, they from mere wantonness spoiled what they did not use, so as to be of no use to the owners.
deep waters--that is, "limpid," as deep waters are generally clear. GROTIUS explains the image as referring to the usuries with which the rich ground the poor ( Ezekiel 22:12 , Isaiah 24:2 ).

19. they eat--scantily.
they drink--sorrowfully.

20. fat . . . lean--the rich oppressors . . . the humble poor.

21. scattered them abroad--down to the time of the carrying away to Babylon [GROTIUS].

22. After the restoration from Babylon, the Jews were delivered in some degree from the oppression, not only of foreigners, but also of their own great people ( Nehemiah 5:1-19 ). The full and final fulfilment of this prophecy is future.

23. set up--that is, raise up by divine appointment; alluding to the declaration of God to David, "I will set up thy seed after thee" ( 2 Samuel 7:12 ); and, "Yet have I set My king on My holy hill of Zion" ( Psalms 2:6 ; compare Acts 2:30 , 13:23 ).
one shepherd--literally, "a Shepherd, one": singularly and pre-eminently one: the only one of His kind, to whom none is comparable ( Solomon 5:10 ). The Lord Jesus refers to this prophecy ( John 10:14 ), "I am THE Good Shepherd." Also "one" as uniting in one the heretofore divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and also "gathering together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth" ( Ephesians 1:10 ); thus healing worse breaches than that between Israel and Judah ( Colossians 1:20 ). "God by Him reconciling all things unto Himself, whether things in earth or in heaven."
David--the antitypical David, Messiah, of the seed of David, which no other king after the captivity was: who was fully, what David was only in a degree, "the man after God's own heart." Also, David means beloved: Messiah was truly God's beloved Son ( Isaiah 42:1 , Matthew 3:17 ). Shepherd means King, rather than religious instructor; in this pre-eminently He was the true David, who was the Shepherd King ( Luke 1:32 Luke 1:33 ). Messiah is called "David" in Isaiah 55:3 Isaiah 55:4 , Jeremiah 30:9 , Hosea 3:5 .

24. my servant--implying fitness for ruling in the name of God, not pursuing a self-chosen course, as other kings, but acting as the faithful administrator of the will of God; Messiah realized fully this character ( Psalms 40:7 Psalms 40:8 , Isaiah 42:1 , Isaiah 49:3 Isaiah 49:6 , 53:11 , Philippians 2:7 ), which David typically and partially represented ( Acts 13:36 ); so He is the fittest person to wield the world scepter, abused by all the world kings ( Daniel 2:34 Daniel 2:35 Daniel 2:44 Daniel 2:45 ).

25. covenant of peace . . . evil beasts . . . to cease . . . dwell safely--The original promise of the law ( Leviticus 26:6 ) shall be realized for the first time fully under Messiah ( Isaiah 11:6-9 , 35:9 , Hosea 2:18 ).

26. them and the places round about my hill--The Jews, and Zion, God's hill ( Psalms 2:6 ), are to be sources of blessing, not merely to themselves, but to the surrounding heathen ( Isaiah 19:24 , Isaiah 56:6 Isaiah 56:7 , 60:3 , Micah 5:7 , Zechariah 8:13 ). The literal fulfilment is, however, the primary one, though the spiritual also is designed. In correspondence with the settled reign of righteousness internally, all is to be prosperity externally, fertilizing showers (according to the promise of the ancient covenant, Leviticus 26:4 , Psalms 68:9 , Malachi 3:10 ), and productive trees and lands ( Ezekiel 34:27 ). Thus shall they realize the image of Ezekiel 34:14 ; namely, a flock richly pastured by God Himself.

27. served themselves of them--availed themselves of their services, as if the Jews were their slaves ( Jeremiah 22:13 , 25:14 ; compare Genesis 15:13 , Exodus 1:14 ).

28. dwell safely--( Jeremiah 23:6 ).

29. plant of renown--Messiah, the "Rod" and "Branch" ( Isaiah 11:1 ), the "righteous Branch" ( Jeremiah 23:5 ), who shall obtain for them "renown." FAIRBAIRN less probably translates, "A plantation for a name," that is, a flourishing condition, represented as a garden (alluding to Eden, Genesis 2:8-11 , with its various trees, good for food and pleasant to the sight), the planting of the Lord ( Isaiah 60:21 , 61:3 ), and an object of "renown" among the heathen.

31. ye my flock . . . are men--not merely an explanation of the image, as JEROME represents. But as God had promised many things which mere "men" could not expect to realize, He shows that it is not from man's might their realization is to be looked for, but from GOD, who would perform them for His covenant-people, "His flock" [ROSENMULLER]. When we realize most our weakness and God's power and faithfulness to His covenant, we are in the fittest state for receiving His blessings.