Israel was being misled by her leaders. As shepherds of God’s flock, Israel’s prophets, priests, and kings should have been faithfully feeding God’s sheep. Instead, they were making themselves fat at the expense of the sheep. They were feeding themselves. The sick were not restored to health. The lost were not searched for and saved. Wicked people preyed on, devoured, and scattered God’s people. These shepherds ruled over God’s people with harshness and force. Consequently, God would harshly punish them as the impostors they were. They had abandoned their God-given work to satisfy themselves. The people were consumed by sin and the shepherds did not try to save them. Soon, these shepherds would face the wrath of God. This sad, distressful situation is recorded in Ezekiel 34:1-10.

To remedy this problem, God told them He would be their shepherd: “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep” (Ezek. 34:15, ASV). He would seek the lost and deliver them from danger. He would feed the hungry and give them rest in verdant pastures. He would restore the sick and give them a safe haven of rest. Their souls would be satisfied because, with God as their shepherd, justice would prevail (Ezek. 34:11-16).

To accomplish this tremendous work of shepherding His people, God would appoint “one shepherd” over His sheep, “My servant David” (Ezek. 34:23-24). This is predictive of the Messiah, who would feed and lead God’s people, thus accomplishing God’s promised care. Jesus is the good shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, thereby giving eternal life to all who will hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:11-16, 24-29).

God promised to shower His people with good fortune with His shepherd over His sheep: “there shall be showers of blessing” (Ezek. 34:26). These blessings are obtained in Christ. He came to give His sheep “life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Contemplate the predicted blessings mentioned in Ezekiel and their fulfillment in Christ, the good shepherd.

A covenant of peace. “I will make a covenant of peace with them” (Ezek. 34:25). God wants humans to be at peace with Him. Sin introduces conflict and causes separation between man and God. God’s shepherd remedies the problem of sin: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Heb. 13:20; John 10:15). As a sacrifice for sin, the death of Jesus reconciles sinners to God by cleansing our sin (Heb. 9:11-15). Christ has made peace by His blood and preaches peace to sinners (Eph. 2:14-18). Your sins will be cleansed by obeying His gospel (Acts 22:16). You will be at peace with God.

Fruitfulness. “I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase” (Ezek. 34:26-27). Every spiritual blessing is found in Christ. As we abide in Christ (live in His way of truth) we bear fruit unto God (Eph. 1:3; John 15:4-5; Gal. 5:22-23). Spiritual fruit is the sweetest, most refreshing kind, for it sustains the soul. Living for Christ is without comparison in this world of sin. By following Christ you share in the fruitfulness of salvation.

Freedom from bondage. “…and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them” (Ezek. 34:27).  Freedom from spiritual bondage is under view here. The good shepherd frees us from the bondage of sin and death (John 8:31-36; Heb. 2:14-15; Gal. 5:1). Freedom from sin happens when sinners obey the gospel from the heart (Rom. 6:17-18, 2-4). Has the Son of God freed you from the bondage of your sin (John 8:36). He will when you obey His voice.

Safety and security from evil. “They shall be safe in their land…And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid” (Ezek. 34:27-28). Satan preys upon souls (1 Pet. 5:8). With Christ as our shepherd we are protected from Satan’s devouring tactics when we listen to the shepherd’s voice and resist evil by following Him faithfully (1 Pet. 5:8-9; James 4:7-8; John 10:2-5). Safety from sin is found in Christ’s flock (John 10:27-29).

Sustenance. “they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land” (Ezek. 34:29). Christ, the good shepherd, feeds us the bread of life (John 6:48-58, 63). God knows our needs, and He supplies them all to us in Christ (Phil. 4:19). God has prepared for us a table from which to feast (Ps. 23:5). Come and eat this bread. Come and take the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17; John 6:35, 51).

Fellowship with God. “Thus they shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord GOD’” (Ezek. 34:30). Oh, what blessed assurance. God is with the Christian (2 Cor. 6:16-18). 

“You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord GOD (Ezek. 34:31). Are you His sheep? Obey the gospel of Jesus Christ and live in His showers of blessing (John 10:27-30).