This chapter begins with the Word of the Lord coming to Ezekiel in order for him to give a warning to the priests and other religious (church) leaders of the day: judgment from God is coming to you who should be taking care of God's "flock" of people, but instead of seeing to their needs, all you are doing is taking care of yourselves. And worse yet, you are ceaselessly enriching yourselves at the expense of the poor, especially those who are unable to take care of themselves and who are looking to you for assistance. Instead of taking care of the flock, you are actually eating the flock (Ez 34:1-8).
Ezekiel uses these analogies: Not only do you eat up the good pasture for yourselves, you trod down the gleanings underfoot so that the rest of the people cannot even eat decent gleanings. You also drink your fill from deep waters, but you foul the drinking water for the rest of the people with your feet (Ez 34:18-19).You are the fat cattle and you use your weight and your horns to push out the lean cattle from the herd (Ez 34:20-21).
Then the Lord gives a Word of hope to the oppressed: "Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle (i.e. the fat cattle and the lean cattle)."
What can be learned from this chapter?
1. The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
2. Sometimes the enemy is from within. Just because a person is an esteemed religious leader does not mean that he cannot be selfish and cruel.
3. God will help His people: be they poor, weak and defenseless, even God Himself will come to their aid.
4. Sometimes God's people go through hard times and it is not their fault and is not due to their own sin.
5. Even in the most harsh condemnation and indictment, God has a Word of hope.
6. All of God's Word is important and should be studied, even the uncomfortable passages about His judgment (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Then the Lord gives a Word of hope to the oppressed: "Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle (i.e. the fat cattle and the lean cattle)."
Further, the Lord promises to send David as their shepherd and to raise up a "plant of renown" (Messiah) so that they will no longer be consumed with hunger or bear the shame of the heathen. The Lord reiterates His covenant with His people that He will be their God and they will be His people.
What can be learned from this chapter?
1. The heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).
2. Sometimes the enemy is from within. Just because a person is an esteemed religious leader does not mean that he cannot be selfish and cruel.
3. God will help His people: be they poor, weak and defenseless, even God Himself will come to their aid.
4. Sometimes God's people go through hard times and it is not their fault and is not due to their own sin.
5. Even in the most harsh condemnation and indictment, God has a Word of hope.
6. All of God's Word is important and should be studied, even the uncomfortable passages about His judgment (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
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