I, the Sovereign Lord, tell you that I myself will look for my sheep and take care of them. (Ezekiel 34:11)
Monarchies are in the news, even today in the 21st century, whether it be Saudi Arabia, Thailand or the United Kingdom (UK). How many nations are ruled by royalty in the modern era?
In the time of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel, the people of Israel are in exile in Babylonia, but some of the citizens remain in their homeland. The “Sovereign God” (as spoken of in the book of Ezekiel) chooses the prophet (“mortal man”) to speak judgement to the people of Israel, especially to their kings, because the people were not kept safe. The shepherds had not done their sacred duties of protecting the sheep from neighboring nations and they had committed idolatry.
Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann comments that God says, “My leaders have fallen away, so I will be the good shepherd of my own people.” God is the ultimate “do-it-yourself” monarch who seeks and finds the lost, cares for them, binds up their wounds and feeds the flock.
Some of the book of Ezekiel focuses on what will happen after the exile of God’s people: God will restore the covenant with Israel and promises to be with them always. God will bring them home and restore their temple and worship.
Just as Israel was following other gods around 500 BC, so also we fall for ideas and forces—idols!— of our era—self-reliance, wealth, power, influence, recognition and more.
But as the lost sheep of Israel could rely on their Shepherd-King, we too follow Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, the perfect sovereign from the family of King David, who takes our sins upon himself, is sacrificed on the cross, freeing us to “sing for joy to God, who protects us” (Psalm 95: 1) and to serve the Lord as we visit the sick and imprisoned, give drink to the thirsty, clothe our neighbors and feed the hungry (Matthew 25).
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Learn more: With a word study, follow the thread running through the Old and New Testaments about God and Jesus as “Shepherd.”
Explore the African American spirituals “Dry Bones” and “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel,” both from the book of Ezekiel. Sing the songs and learn about their historical roots.
Ed Brandt