God Provides a Shepherd

Rejoice in a Good Shepherd

There might be a lot of things that we do not understand in this world but behind it all we must have a strong belief that God is good. God really cares about wayward man. We see this in a number of ways.

1) We strayed from God

We are all like sheep that strayed from the shepherd and were vulnerable to attack.“And they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered” (Ezekiel 34:5). This speaks about Adam’s original sin, but also reveals how all of us choose to live out a life different apart from God‘s good commands. Do you sense that bent to do wrong in your own life? This is called the sinful nature.

2) There was none to help

It is bad enough being helpless, but no one could help. “My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill, and My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth; and there was no one to search or seek for them” (Ezekiel 34:6). No one really cared. Isn’t that the way many people feel today? Everyone is out for himself.

3) Religious leaders didn’t help

Even religious leaders can disappoint us. God had appointed leaders over His people to care for them, but even these leaders in many cases sought their own good. They were lazy and indulgent. “My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock” (Ezekiel 34:8).

Some people turn their hearts away from God because because their religious leader failed them. Do you think this is right? What should the right response be? Did a leader ever disappoint you?

4) God Himself Would care for His people

How strange and wonderful that God reached out to care for the very ones that offended and defied Him. “For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11).

God cares for His people by making sure that they have the best pasture land. “I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel” (Ezekiel 34:14). How did He do this? He Himself would appoint a faithful shepherd.

This Good Shepherd would be His own Son that He would send from heaven to live among men and die for His people. “Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:23). Jesus Christ came in David’s lineage.

Application: How grateful we should be to our God for searching us out! We might search for our favorite things, but would we go out of our way to look for that which was broken and dirty? Thank the Lord for having Jesus die on the cross so we could be added us to His flock.

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