DECEMBER 13
EZEKIEL 34:11–31
It is a good thing that our lives are controlled
not by failed human shepherds, but by the
good shepherd, who will never fail.
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After prophesying against the wicked leaders of Israel, Ezekiel
brings God’s children promises of a faithful good shepherd:
Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will
judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push
with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns,
till you have scattered them abroad, I will rescue my flock; they
shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.
And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and
he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I,
the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince
among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken. (Ezek. 34:20–24)
So often in the middle of Israel’s despair, when their trouble has
been troubled further by wicked and selfish leaders, God makes
promises that, no matter how they are received at the moment by
his children, find their full fulfillment only in Jesus. Think of how
the Gospel of Matthew begins: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus
Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1). Jesus is in
the royal line of David. All of the promises God made about David’s
unending kingdom are fulfilled in Jesus. John declares, through the
words of Jesus, that Jesus is the promised good shepherd:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life
for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who
does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep
and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees
because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am
the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just
as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down
my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this
fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So
there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father
loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
(John 10:11–17)
Jesus is the full expression of the promise of the good shep-
herd from David’s royal line. Ultimately, what the people of old
needed, and what we need as well, was a better human shepherd.
Jesus, the God-man, is that better shepherd. Yes, the human shep-
herds of Israel were derelict in their duties. They loved themselves
more than they loved God and his people. Yes, it would have
greatly benefited the people of God if they had been led by godly
leaders. But, because of the presence and power of sin, what hu-
manity needs is a shepherd who would lay down his life for the
redemption of his sheep. Be glad today that Jesus is that shepherd.
He laid down his life so that you might have life. You are his sheep
and the object of his shepherding care forever.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I rest secure in your promise of a good shepherd.
I delight to know that you have promised one who will tend to
his people with attentive care and love. Even more so, you have
provided that shepherd in the person of Jesus, the heir of David
and King of the world! Thank you for providing one who would
lay down his life for his sheep, so that I may be reconciled to you.
I pray in his name, amen.