The latter half of this chapter is clearly alluded to in Jesus' teaching on the good shepherd. First Ezekiel what is wrong with the old shepherds. There are many failings:
- They looked after their own interests rather than that of the flock.
- They despised the weak instead of helping them.
- They did not look out for the lost, seeking to bring them back.
- They ruled harshly.
As a result the sheep in reality had no shepherds and wandered around aimlessly. Sadly we have to admit that there are still examples of this type of shepherding today. In fact there is always a temptation to go down this road, so if we are in leadership of any kind we need to watch ourselves very carefully.
The bad shepherds may have been able to lord it over the flock, but they could not lord it over God, and so would be judged by Him.
Since the shepherds failed so badly, the Lord will do the job Himself, reversing all the shepherd's failings. When the Lord is shepherding the weak are cared for, the lost found, and the flock live in peace and prosperity.
Verses 17-19 remind one of Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats, and it is significant that in that parable it is concern and care for the weak that is the essence of the difference between the sheep and the goats. Some get bogged down in whether or not it is teaching a salvation by works, but the parable is clearly alluding to these words of Ezekiel.
Verses 20-24 are one example of why the Messiah is thought of as a son of David.
The final verses show what life is meant to be like. We are meant to live under the covering of the Lord (see Psalm 91).
The bad shepherds may have been able to lord it over the flock, but they could not lord it over God, and so would be judged by Him.
Since the shepherds failed so badly, the Lord will do the job Himself, reversing all the shepherd's failings. When the Lord is shepherding the weak are cared for, the lost found, and the flock live in peace and prosperity.
Verses 17-19 remind one of Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats, and it is significant that in that parable it is concern and care for the weak that is the essence of the difference between the sheep and the goats. Some get bogged down in whether or not it is teaching a salvation by works, but the parable is clearly alluding to these words of Ezekiel.
Verses 20-24 are one example of why the Messiah is thought of as a son of David.
The final verses show what life is meant to be like. We are meant to live under the covering of the Lord (see Psalm 91).
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