Ezekiel 34

Ezekiel prophesied against the false shepherds of Israel who misled the people and fed themselves for their own gain. They did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bound up the broken nor brought back the lost; but instead ruled them forcibly and cruelly. The people were scattered over the face of the earth without a shepherd. God's people became prey for all. Therefore, God was against the "shepherds," and they were held accountable for the lives of the people they destroyed. 

Then, God told Ezekiel what He would do. He said He would search for His sheep and seek them out and deliver them from where they were scattered. He would gather them from the countries and into their own land. He would feed them on the mountains of Israel, in good pasture. They shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. He would seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken, strengthen the sick, and destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.

And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. 

GOD'S FUTURE PROMISES TO ISRAEL

These are God's future promises to Israel: He shall save His flock and they will no longer be prey. His servant David shall feed them and be their shepherd. And the Lord will be their God and His servant David a prince among them. 

Furthermore: the Lord will "make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. [He] will make them and the places all around [His] hill a blessing: and [He] will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing." Trees will bear fruit and the earth shall increase. "They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that [He is] the Lord, when [He breaks] the bands of their yoke and delivers them from the hands of those who enslaved them.  And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but...no one shall make them afraid. [He] will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore." They shall know that "[He], the Lord God, [is] with them, and they, the house of Israel, are [His] people..." 

You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God.

COMMENTARY 

Now that Jerusalem has been destroyed, it has been confirmed that the false prophets of Israel were liars. They were not giving the people the Word of God. 

The people scattered, in part because they were not being fed the meat of the Word of God. This happens today when churches are not feeding the people. True Christians will scatter if they are not fed. 

God held the false prophets accountable for the condition of the people. 

In this chapter, God told about the true Shepherd, Jesus. This section looks to God's future promises, which have yet to be fulfilled. God will search out His people, and eighteen times God makes promises of what He will do. 

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, said the sheep hear His voice. Why? Because He is calling them and they know Him. 

Now, about Israel: in this chapter, they are presently in captivity because of their sin, misled by false prophets. But God is not through with Israel, and He will bring them back to the land He gave to them. He will feed them in good pasture, and when they sleep, they will be safe. 

God will separate the sheep from the goats, the believers from the unbelievers. And one day, David will serve under Jesus, and the Church will serve Jesus in New Jerusalem, while the people will worship God in a right relationship with Him, in Israel.