Ezekiel Chapter 34

Ezekiel 34

Of Shepherds and Sheep

Ezekiel 34 turns from the fall of Jerusalem and the failure of the people to the failure of Israel’s shepherds. The shepherds were the rulers and leaders of Israel, both civil and spiritual, who should have cared for God’s flock. Instead, they fed themselves, exploited the sheep, neglected the weak, ruled with force and cruelty, and allowed the flock to scatter. The LORD therefore announces judgment on the false shepherds and promises that He Himself will search for His sheep, gather them, feed them, heal them, and bring them back to their own land. The chapter then moves from the failure of Israel’s leaders to the future hope of Israel under one shepherd, David, in a covenant of peace. From a literal, premillennial, dispensational understanding, this points beyond the partial return from Babylon to the future restoration of Israel in the land under the Messiah, with David serving as prince under the supreme rule of the LORD. The uploaded notes emphasize the guilt of the shepherds, the responsibility of the flock, the LORD Himself as the true Shepherd, and the future covenant peace and security promised to Israel.

A. God’s word to the shepherds of His people.

1. Ezekiel 34:1-2, The accusation against the unfaithful shepherds of Israel.

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?

The word of the LORD came unto me shows that this rebuke of Israel’s leaders is not Ezekiel’s resentment or political criticism. It is the word of the LORD. God Himself indicts the shepherds who failed His flock.

Prophesy against the shepherds of Israel means Ezekiel is commanded to speak against Israel’s leaders. In the ancient world, kings and rulers were often described as shepherds. The image includes civil rulers, princes, and those who had spiritual responsibility for God’s people.

Joshua was to lead Israel so that the congregation would not be like sheep without a shepherd.

Numbers 27:15, And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

Numbers 27:16, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

Numbers 27:17, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

David was also called to shepherd Israel.

2 Samuel 5:2, Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

Jeremiah also understood his ministry in shepherding terms.

Jeremiah 17:16, As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.

Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds means the leaders must answer to God. They may have held authority over the people, but they were under the authority of the LORD.

Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves is the central accusation. They used their office for themselves. They consumed the benefits of leadership but neglected the responsibilities of leadership. They cared more for their own comfort, wealth, influence, and status than for the flock entrusted to them.

Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? is the obvious moral question. Shepherds exist for the good of the flock. Leaders among God’s people are not given authority so they can consume the sheep, but so they can feed, guard, guide, and care for them.

The New Testament carries this same principle into church leadership.

1 Peter 5:2, Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not-for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Peter 5:3, Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:4, And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Jesus Himself is the standard of true shepherding.

John 10:11, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The contrast is sharp. Israel’s shepherds fed themselves. The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

2. Ezekiel 34:3-4, The greed of the unfaithful shepherds of Israel.

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.

Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool means the shepherds took the best from the flock for themselves. They enjoyed the produce, wealth, and benefits that came from the sheep, but they failed to care for the sheep. It was not inherently wrong for a shepherd to receive support from the flock, but it was wicked to receive from the flock while neglecting and abusing it.

The New Testament teaches that faithful ministers may be supported by those they serve.

1 Corinthians 9:7, Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of-the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

1 Corinthians 9:11, If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

1 Corinthians 9:14, Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

1 Timothy 5:17, Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word-and doctrine.

1 Timothy 5:18, For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The-labourer is worthy of his reward.

Yet Paul also showed that shepherds must be willing to set aside rights for the good of the flock.

Acts 20:33, I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

Acts 20:34, Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with-me.

Acts 20:35, I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and-to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to-receive.

Ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock means the shepherds exploited the strongest sheep rather than strengthening the whole flock. They consumed, but did not nourish. They took, but did not give.

The diseased have ye not strengthened means the weak and sickly sheep were neglected. Godly shepherds notice weakness and seek to strengthen it.

Neither have ye healed that which was sick means they failed to minister to those visibly wounded by sin, suffering, oppression, and trouble.

Neither have ye bound up that which was broken means they failed to care for the wounded. A faithful shepherd does not ignore broken sheep. He binds wounds.

Neither have ye brought again that which was driven away means they failed to restore the scattered and straying. Some sheep had been pushed away, driven away, or lost in confusion, but the shepherds did not pursue them.

Neither have ye sought that which was lost means they lacked the heart of the true shepherd. The lost sheep mattered to God, but not to them.

Jesus later shows the heart of God toward the lost sheep.

Luke 15:4, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the-ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Luke 15:5, And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Luke 15:6, And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with-me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

But with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them means the shepherds were not merely negligent; they were harsh. They ruled by power, pressure, intimidation, manipulation, and cruelty. They did not lead like servants. They dominated like tyrants.

Jesus forbids this kind of leadership among His people.

Matthew 20:25, But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion-over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Matthew 20:26, But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be-your minister;

Matthew 20:27, And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Matthew 20:28, Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give-his life a ransom for many.

The faithful shepherd strengthens, heals, binds, restores, and seeks. The false shepherd consumes, neglects, scatters, and rules with cruelty.

3. Ezekiel 34:5-6, The result of the work of the unfaithful shepherds.

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 34:6, My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

They were scattered, because there is no shepherd shows the consequence of failed leadership. When shepherds do not shepherd, sheep scatter. The answer to abusive shepherds is not no shepherding at all; it is faithful shepherding under God.

They became meat to all the beasts of the field means the scattered sheep became vulnerable. Without faithful shepherds, they were exposed to predators. The beasts picture the powers, enemies, and dangers that devoured God’s people when leaders failed them.

My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill means the flock was dispersed into dangerous and idolatrous places. Mountains and high hills often connect with Israel’s high-place worship and spiritual wandering. The sheep were not gathered into safe pasture. They wandered.

My sheep…my flock is deeply important. God twice claims the sheep as His own. The flock did not belong to the kings, princes, priests, elders, or prophets. The flock belonged to the LORD. This is why the abuse was so serious. The false shepherds were mistreating God’s sheep.

Peter repeats this principle to church elders.

1 Peter 5:2, Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not-for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Peter 5:3, Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

The church belongs to Christ, not to human leaders.

Matthew 16:18, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my-church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

None did search or seek after them reveals the tragedy. The sheep were lost, but the shepherds did not look. God saw what leaders ignored.

4. Ezekiel 34:7-10, God promises to hold the unfaithful shepherds to account.

Ezekiel 34:7, Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

Ezekiel 34:8, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat-to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock,-but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

Ezekiel 34:9, Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

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.

Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD means God now speaks directly to the guilty leaders. They failed to hear the cries of the sheep, but now they must hear the word of the LORD.

As I live, saith the Lord GOD is a divine oath. God swears by His own life that He will act. The judgment on the shepherds is certain.

Because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field repeats the charge. God’s flock was devoured because the shepherds failed.

Because there was no shepherd means functionally there was no true shepherd. There were men with titles and offices, but they did not do the work of shepherds.

Neither did my shepherds search for my flock means they were negligent. They did not pursue the lost or protect the vulnerable.

But the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock again exposes selfish leadership. Their appetite replaced their calling.

Behold, I am against the shepherds is a terrifying sentence. The shepherds had been against the sheep in practice, and now God is against the shepherds in judgment.

I will require my flock at their hand means God will hold them accountable. They must answer for the flock they neglected, scattered, and devoured.

This same principle of accountability appears in the New Testament.

Hebrews 13:17, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls,-as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that-is unprofitable for you.

Cause them to cease from feeding the flock means God will remove them from the office they abused. He will strip them of shepherding responsibility.

Neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more means God will end their exploitation. Their season of using the flock for themselves will stop.

I will deliver my flock from their mouth is strong language. The shepherds had become like predators with sheep in their mouths. God will rescue His flock from them.

That they may not be meat for them means the flock will no longer be consumed by those who should have cared for them. God protects His sheep by judging false shepherds.

5. Ezekiel 34:11-16, God promises to do the work the unfaithful shepherds would not do.

Ezekiel 34:11, For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:12, As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered;-so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered-in the cloudy and dark day.

Ezekiel 34:13, And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them-to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places-of the country.

Ezekiel 34:14, I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be:-there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of-Israel.

Ezekiel 34:15, I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.

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.

Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out is one of the great promises of the chapter. The emphatic language shows that the LORD Himself will do what the shepherds failed to do. God will personally search for His sheep.

This is a clear testimony to the shepherd-heart of God. It also points forward to Jesus Christ, who identifies Himself as the good Shepherd.

John 10:11, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:14, I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Jesus’ claim to be the good Shepherd is not merely pastoral imagery. In light of Ezekiel 34, it is a claim bound to the identity and work of Yahweh Himself.

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered pictures God coming among His sheep to gather them. The LORD does not shepherd from a distance only. He comes among them.

This anticipates Christ’s incarnation and ministry to the lost sheep of Israel.

Matthew 15:24, But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

So will I seek out my sheep means God’s search is deliberate, personal, and effective.

Will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day refers to Israel’s scattering under judgment. The cloudy and dark day points to calamity, exile, and the day of the LORD’s judgment. But God promises deliverance out of all those places.

And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries is a literal regathering promise. Israel was scattered among peoples and countries; God promises to gather them from those peoples and countries.

Ezekiel has already spoken of this regathering.

Ezekiel 11:17, Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble-you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

He will expand it again in Ezekiel 36.

Ezekiel 36:24, For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will-bring you into your own land.

Will bring them to their own land is explicit. The sheep have a land. The land belongs to Israel because God gave it to them. The restoration is not merely spiritualized into the church. The scattering was literal, and the regathering is literal.

Feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country shows restoration to Israel’s land with provision and settlement. The same mountains once defiled by idolatry will become places of feeding under God’s care.

I will feed them in a good pasture means the LORD will provide what the false shepherds withheld. He will nourish His flock.

Upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be means the restored flock will have a safe dwelling place in the land.

There shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel points to peace, abundance, and security. Sheep lie down when they are safe and satisfied.

Psalm 23 gives the same shepherding comfort.

Psalm 23:1, The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:2, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:3, He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD repeats the promise with divine certainty. The LORD Himself will nourish and rest His people.

I will seek that which was lost means God will do what the shepherds did not do. He will seek lost sheep.

And bring again that which was driven away means He will restore those pushed out, scattered, or driven by failed leadership and judgment.

Will bind up that which was broken means He will heal wounds.

Will strengthen that which was sick means He will minister strength to the weak.

These are the actions of the true Shepherd. Jesus gave Peter a shepherding charge in line with this same principle.

John 21:15, So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me-more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He-saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

John 21:16, He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He-saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed-my sheep.

John 21:17, He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was-grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord,-thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

But I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment means God will also judge among the flock. Not all sheep are innocent victims. Some are fat and strong in the sense of oppressive, selfish, and abusive. God will feed them, but with judgment.

B. God’s word to His flock, His own people.

1. Ezekiel 34:17-19, Don’t trample the pasture and foul the water.

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 34:19, And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink-that which ye have fouled with your feet.

As for you, O my flock marks a shift. God has rebuked the shepherds, but now He speaks to the flock. The sins of leaders do not erase the accountability of the people. Some sheep also act wickedly toward other sheep.

Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats means God distinguishes within the flock. He can judge between one sheep and another. He knows which are weak and oppressed, and which are strong and oppressive.

Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture means some among the flock had enough. They had eaten the good pasture. The problem was not that they ate; it was that they ruined what remained.

But ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures means they trampled what others needed. They used their strength selfishly. They treated the pasture as though it belonged only to them.

To have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet means they also ruined the water for others. They drank clean water and then muddied what remained. Their sin was selfishness, carelessness, and disregard for the weaker sheep.

As for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet means the weaker sheep were forced to live off what the stronger sheep had damaged.

They drink that which ye have fouled with your feet means the oppressed sheep had to drink muddied water because of the selfish behavior of others in the flock.

The picture applies broadly to life among God’s people. Bad shepherds are not the only danger. Proud, selfish, strong sheep can also damage the pasture, muddy the waters, and make life hard for the weak.

2. Ezekiel 34:20-24, God will protect His flock against renegade sheep.

Ezekiel 34:20, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat-cattle and between the lean cattle.

Ezekiel 34:21, Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns,-till ye have scattered them abroad;

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 34:23, And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David;-he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

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.

Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle repeats God’s personal involvement. He will judge not only shepherds, but also sheep. He sees the difference between the fat and the lean, the oppressive and the oppressed.

Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder means the strong sheep used their weight to push others around. This is the behavior of proud, self-interested members of the flock.

And pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad means they attacked the weak and sick. Instead of helping the diseased, they shoved them out. Their strength became an instrument of cruelty.

This kind of oppression was seen in Judah’s treatment of others, including the abuse of Hebrew servants during Jerusalem’s final days.

Jeremiah 34:8, This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made-a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

Jeremiah 34:9, That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess,-go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.

Jeremiah 34:10, Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every-one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of-them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go.

Jeremiah 34:11, But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to-return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey means God will rescue His sheep both from false shepherds and from abusive sheep. He will not allow His flock to be prey forever.

I will judge between cattle and cattle repeats that God’s judgment within the flock is precise. He will not condemn the weak with the oppressive. He knows the difference.

I will set up one shepherd over them moves from judgment to restoration. Israel’s problem had been many false shepherds. God’s answer is one true shepherd over the flock.

He shall feed them, even my servant David is a major restoration promise. God says David will shepherd Israel. From a literal reading, this points to David himself in the future kingdom, serving as prince under the Messiah. Many understand “David” as a title for the Messiah, the Son of David, and Christ is certainly the supreme Shepherd-King. Yet Ezekiel 34:24 specifically calls David a prince among them, not the ultimate King over all creation, which fits the view that resurrected David will have a real governing role over restored Israel under Messiah in the Millennial Kingdom.

Other passages also speak of David’s future role.

Jeremiah 30:8, For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will-break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of-him:

Jeremiah 30:9, But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto-them.

Ezekiel 37:24, And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also-walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

Ezekiel 37:25, And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers-have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever:-and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

Hosea 3:5, Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king;-and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

He shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd means David’s future rule will not be exploitative like the false shepherds. It will be shepherd-rule, caring for the flock under God.

I the LORD will be their God gives the covenant center. Israel’s restoration is not merely political. The LORD Himself will be their God.

My servant David a prince among them gives the order. The LORD is God over them, and David is a prince among them. David’s leadership is subordinate, covenantal, and shepherd-like.

I the LORD have spoken it seals the promise. The future shepherding restoration of Israel rests on the spoken word of the LORD.

3. Ezekiel 34:25-30, God’s promise to bring blessing and security to His flock.

Ezekiel 34:25, And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out-of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

Ezekiel 34:26, And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause-the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:27, And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and-they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the-bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

Ezekiel 34:28, And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land-devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.

Ezekiel 34:29, And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed-with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

Ezekiel 34:30, Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even-the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.

I will make with them a covenant of peace points to the future covenant blessing of restored Israel. This covenant of peace is connected with the New Covenant promises and reaches its full expression in the future kingdom. It is not merely the absence of war, but wholeness, safety, blessing, and restored relationship with God.

Ezekiel will mention this covenant of peace again.

Ezekiel 37:26, Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them:-and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

Jeremiah speaks of the righteous Branch and Israel dwelling safely.

Jeremiah 23:5, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,-and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Jeremiah 23:6, In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name-whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land means the land will be made safe. This points to kingdom conditions, where danger from beasts is removed and creation itself is brought into harmony.

Isaiah describes this kingdom peace.

Isaiah 11:6, The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;-and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:7, And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion-shall eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 11:8, And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall-put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

Isaiah 11:9, They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of-the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 65 gives similar kingdom imagery.

Isaiah 65:25, The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock:-and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith-the LORD.

They shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods means the people will be secure even in places normally associated with danger. The restored flock will not live in fear.

I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing refers especially to Zion and the land around the LORD’s hill. God will make His people and their land a blessing.

I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing means God will restore agricultural blessing. Rain will come at the right time. The land will flourish. This is literal blessing in the land, with spiritual significance as well.

The prophets repeatedly connect future kingdom blessing with agricultural abundance.

Joel 3:18, And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and-the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain-shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

Amos 9:13, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the-treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

Amos 9:14, And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste-cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens,-and eat the fruit of them.

Amos 9:15, And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out-of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

Zechariah 8:12, For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her-increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess-all these things.

The tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase means the curse-like conditions of famine and barrenness will be reversed. The land will produce.

They shall be safe in their land is a literal land promise. Israel’s future includes safety in the land, not merely a spiritual feeling of peace.

They shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke means Israel will know the LORD through deliverance from bondage. The yokes of oppressors will be broken.

Delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them means God will rescue Israel from exploiters, just as He will rescue the sheep from false shepherds.

They shall no more be a prey to the heathen means Israel will no longer be devoured by the nations. This awaits complete fulfillment in the future kingdom, when Israel dwells securely under Messiah’s rule.

Neither shall the beast of the land devour them repeats safety from natural danger.

They shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid is one of the clearest descriptions of kingdom security.

Micah speaks similarly of the coming kingdom peace.

Micah 4:3, And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat-their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation,-neither shall they learn war any more.

Micah 4:4, But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make-them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

I will raise up for them a plant of renown may refer to the restored fruitfulness of the land, but it also has Messianic overtones when considered with the broader language of the Branch. The LORD will raise up renown, life, and fruitfulness for His people.

Isaiah connects the Branch with the beauty and glory of Israel’s future.

Isaiah 4:2, In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the-earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

They shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land means famine and deprivation will be removed.

Neither bear the shame of the heathen any more means Israel’s humiliation among the nations will end. The nations had mocked, despised, and preyed upon Israel, but God will remove that shame.

Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them means the restored blessing will reveal God’s presence. Israel will know the LORD is with them.

They, even the house of Israel, are my people is covenant language. God will publicly reaffirm His relationship with Israel.

Saith the Lord GOD closes the promise with divine certainty.

4. Ezekiel 34:31, God’s assurance to His flock.

Ezekiel 34:31, And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.

Ye my flock, the flock of my pasture gives assurance. Despite the failures of shepherds and the sins within the flock, the LORD still claims His people. They are His flock and His pasture.

Are men, and I am your God reminds Israel of both dignity and humility. They are not animals in essence; they are men made in the image of God. Yet they are not God. They are creatures, and the LORD is their God.

This answers the pride seen throughout Ezekiel. Pharaoh said the river was his. The prince of Tyre said he was a god. The false shepherds acted as if the flock belonged to them. But the truth is simple: God is God, and men are men.

The full bridge between God and man would ultimately come in the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man, the true Shepherd of the sheep.

Hebrews 13:20, Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of-the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Hebrews 13:21, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing-in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ezekiel 34 is one of the great shepherd chapters of Scripture. It condemns leaders who use God’s people for themselves, neglect the weak, refuse to seek the lost, and rule with force and cruelty. It also warns the flock that strong sheep can abuse weak sheep by trampling pasture and muddying waters. Yet the heart of the chapter is hope: the LORD Himself will search for His sheep, gather them from the countries, bring them to their own land, feed them in good pasture, and set one shepherd over them. He will make a covenant of peace, remove danger, send showers of blessing, break their yoke, and cause Israel to dwell safely. False shepherds fail, strong sheep oppress, and scattered sheep wander, but the Lord GOD remains the true Shepherd of His flock.