Ezekiel 34

Ezekiel 34:1-16 (NKJV)

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, “Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to shepherds of Israel who feel themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled the. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd: and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: “As I live,” says the Lord God, “Surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the filed, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock” –‘therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep an deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgement.”

While Ezekiel 34 was written as a warning and a prophecy to the people of Israel, it would do a great many preachers/pastors of today benefit to take a good look at it in light of their own church. Ezekiel warns of shepherds getting rich while their flock goes hungry; shepherds who cast out the lame, broken, sick and needy and only keep those deemed worthy. Ezekiel 34 is a pretty complete and accurate description of too many of today’s churches.

Too many preachers/pastors are more concerned with how things look than what is truly going on. The building has to look right – inside and out – and spare no expense with extravagance.  The way people dress is more important than the fact that they are wanting to fellowship with other believers. Whether or not they are liked plays a big role in just exactly what they say from the pulpit – if someone doesn’t like it, they will walk out and take their money with them. Here’s a thought – just speak Truth and worry more about the hearts of those sitting in front of you instead of how many are sitting in front of you.

Good pastors/preachers who aren’t afraid of Truth are so very hard to find these days. God’s judgement on today’s shepherds will be the same as it was in Ezekiel’s time if they don’t repent and get their act together.

Keep searching and keep walking toward Jesus!