Ez34 The Shepherds (2/5)
(Please see PDF link below)
# The Shepherds ## Ezekiel 34 (2/5) [Highclere Castle, UK](https://unsplash.com/photos/c8ET5XvBwnU "caption") --- # **Who** will help me change? [###](#/outline "secret") >>> + **disappointed** by those who are supposed to **help**? + parents, teachers, authority + lawyers, doctors + mentors, pastors --- | 1. What must I change? |
[ch16:](# "ref") *Princess* [(identity)](# "ref")
| | --- | --- | | 2. **Who will help me?** |
[ch34:](# "ref") *Shepherds* [(leadership)](# "ref")
| | 3. How do I change? |
[ch36:](# "ref") *Wanderers* [(God's work)](# "ref")
| | 4. Am I beyond hope? |
[ch37:](# "ref") *Dry Bones* [(new life)](# "ref")
| | 5. If others won't change? |
[ch33:](# "ref") *Watchman* [(missions)](# "ref")
| [Bad Pyrmont, Germany. Sebastian Unrau](https://unsplash.com/photos/sp-p7uuT0tw "caption") >>> + **leadership** + when we are **disappointed** with our leaders + when we **ourselves** are in leadership --- ## The Shepherds [(Ez34)](# "ref") 1. Shepherds Who **Eat** the Flock [v1-8](# "ref") 1. The Shepherd Who **Seeks** the Lost [v9-15](# "ref") 1. Sheep Who **Push** Aside the Weak [v16-22](# "ref") 1. Sheep Who **Know** the Shepherd [v23-31](# "ref") >>> + two hats we wear: as **sheep** and as **shepherds** + as **sheep**: + **disappointed** by bad shepherds + trust in the one **Good** Shepherd + show **grace** to fellow sheep + as **shepherds**: + authority **comes** from God + He can **take** it away + sheep don't **belong** to us + our higher **master** --- Ah, **shepherds** of Israel
who have been feeding **yourselves**!
Should not shepherds feed the **sheep**? [3](# "ref") You eat the **fat**,
you clothe yourselves with the **wool**,
you **slaughter** the fat ones,
but you do not **feed** the sheep. [Ezekiel 34:2-3 (ESV)](# "ref") [Moel Famau, UK. Rick Barrett](https://unsplash.com/photos/x5hFSPUT8uU "caption") >>> + luxury / **comfort** + neglect **duty** + e.g., **bad**/lazy K12 teachers: + enjoy **respect** + e.g., TW 18% interest savings + e.g., BCTF: teaching **honourable** + but bad teachers don't **care** for kids + some even **abuse** kids --- The **weak** you have not strengthened,
the **sick** you have not healed,
the **injured** you have not bound up, the **strayed** you have not brought back,
the **lost** you have not sought,
and with **force** and harshness
you have **ruled** them. [Ezekiel 34:4 (ESV)](# "ref") [Joshua Clay](https://unsplash.com/photos/VNjNtdu0yCw "caption") >>> + as **sheep**: if I've been **weak** / sick / lost + felt **helpless** and alone + **abused** by selfish helpers + ⇒ God **sees**: my real **Shepherd** + as **shepherds**: teacher, manager, parent, expert + ⇒ remember my **mandate**: + **weak** / sick / injured: **capability** + suffered **loss** / hurt + **stray** / lost: **culpability** + made bad **decisions** + do not be **harsh**: + I'm not their **ruler**, God is --- # Who are the **weak**, sick, injured, **strays**, or lost
I have neglected? >>> + and as **sheep**: take comfort in the Good Shepherd --- ## The Shepherds [(Ez34)](# "ref") 1. Shepherds Who Eat the Flock [v1-8](# "ref") 1. **The Shepherd Who Seeks the Lost** [v9-15](# "ref") 1. Sheep Who Push Aside the Weak [v16-22](# "ref") 1. Sheep Who Know the Shepherd [v23-31](# "ref") >>> God takes action --- Behold, I am **against** the shepherds,
and I will **require** my sheep at their hand
and put a **stop** to their feeding the sheep. [Ezekiel 34:10 (ESV)](# "ref") [Ukraine. Paul Itkin](https://unsplash.com/photos/xCdFXXoZkJc "caption") >>> + as **sheep**: take **comfort** + as **shepherds**: take **warning** + opposition + remove role/right + e.g., parable of **vineyard** (Mk12): --- What will the **owner** of the vineyard do? He will come and **destroy** the tenants
and give the vineyard to **others**. [Mark 12:9 (ESV)](# "ref") [Mike Kotsch](https://unsplash.com/photos/HNx4QLRgy2k "caption") >>> + kick out **wicked caretakers** + **proud** + believed had **power** over owner --- Behold, I, **I myself** will search for my sheep
and will **seek** them out.... I will **rescue** them from all places
where they have been **scattered**
on a day of clouds and thick darkness. [Ezekiel 34:11,12 (ESV)](# "ref") [Shontz Photography](https://unsplash.com/photos/y4v96Sy2ne4 "caption") >>> + God often feels **far away**, absent + promise: personally takes **action** --- I will seek the **lost**,
and I will bring back the **strayed**,
and I will bind up the **injured**,
and I will strengthen the **weak** [Ezekiel 34:16a (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + what the shepherds **ought** to have done --- # What is God's **promise** to me when I am
**lost** and weak? >>> + I **myself** will search for my sheep + **rescue**, bring **home** --- ## The Shepherds [(Ez34)](# "ref") 1. Shepherds Who Eat the Flock [v1-8](# "ref") 1. The Shepherd Who Seeks the Lost [v9-15](# "ref") 1. **Sheep Who Push Aside the Weak** [v16-22](# "ref") 1. Sheep Who Know the Shepherd [v23-31](# "ref") >>> + God not only judges **shepherds** (leaders) + also between **sheep** --- ... I will strengthen the **weak**,
and the **fat** and the strong I will destroy. I will **feed** them in **justice**. [17](# "ref") ... Behold, I **judge** between **sheep** and sheep,
between rams and male goats. [Ezekiel 34:16b,17 (ESV)](# "ref") [Hay, Australia. Christopher Burns](https://unsplash.com/photos/215Fiqh6hRc "caption") >>> + not all of us sheep are the **victims** + sometimes we are the **abusers** + when God **feeds** us, + not only with His **blessings** + also His **judgment** + this is what we **need**: --- Behold my **servant**, whom I uphold, ... He will not grow **faint** or be discouraged
till he has established **justice** in the earth;
and the coastlands **wait** for his law. [Isaiah 42:1,4 (ESV)](# "ref") [Dylan Roberts, Strumble Head Lighthouse, UK](https://unsplash.com/photos/ndsRLeQBlsA "caption") >>> + **servant**: Christ, the **Anointed** One + when we **cry out** for God's justice + we ourselves are not **exempt** from it! + hear God describe our **selfishness**: --- Is it not enough for you
to feed on the **good** pasture, that you must **tread** down with your feet
the rest of your pasture? and to drink of **clear** water,
that you must **muddy** the rest of the water
with your feet? [Ezekiel 34:18 (ESV)](# "ref") [Ariana Prestes](https://unsplash.com/photos/24bzOuENxHc "caption") >>> + we **enjoy** God's blessings, rescue, rest + but **prevent** others from enjoying grace + "**heaven** would be nice, except for other **people**" + erect artificial **barriers**: must + attend sm gp 3mo + stop smoking + adopt capitalism + look like **me** + implicitly, we believe we are more **deserving**: --- You push with side and **shoulder**,
and thrust at all the weak with your **horns**,
till you have **scattered** them abroad [Ezekiel 34:21 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + we who are **stronger**: bc God's blessings + stable **home**, no **finance** stress + church **community**, friends + should not wield our strength (horn) + against the **weak**: + **mentally** ill + **financially** struggling + outcast / **friendless** + **hurting** / rltn sorrow --- But **woe** to you,
scribes and Pharisees, **hypocrites**! For you **shut** the kingdom of heaven
in people's **faces**. For you neither enter **yourselves**
nor allow those who **would** enter to go in. [Matthew 23:13 (ESV)](# "ref") [Chefchaouen, Mexico. Randy Tarampi](https://unsplash.com/photos/Y05TMi8ZFHA "caption") >>> + scribes / Phar in **authority** + **stronger** sheep + heavy **burden** of letter of law + those who **want** to enter: open, eager + big **stop** sign: + first **change** yourself --- # Have I **thrust** aside weaker brethren? >>> + do I **notice** them? + focused on **own** problems --- ## The Shepherds [(Ez34)](# "ref") 1. Shepherds Who Eat the Flock [v1-8](# "ref") 1. The Shepherd Who Seeks the Lost [v9-15](# "ref") 1. Sheep Who Push Aside the Weak [v16-22](# "ref") 1. **Sheep Who Know the Shepherd** [v23-31](# "ref") >>> + God **himself** takes action: + **heal** our wounds (v9-15) + **establish** rltn between + **sheep** + shepherd + **man** + God --- I will set up over them **one shepherd**,
my servant **David**, and he shall feed them:
he shall **feed** them and be their **shepherd**. [Ezekiel 34:23 (ESV)](# "ref") [Lac d'Anterne, France. Hugues de Buyer-Mimeure](https://unsplash.com/photos/-wT0iS-TSZM "caption") >>> + King David long **dead** + God had **promised** heir to his **throne** + **Christ**, Son of David + (blind Bar-Timaeus addresses him) --- I am the **good shepherd**. I **know** my **own** and my own know me,
[15](# "ref") just as the **Father** knows me
and I know the Father; and I **lay down my life** for the sheep. [John 10:14-15 (ESV)](# "ref") [Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/09AhDCedXF8 "caption") >>> + contrast w/**hired** hand + just a **job**, no **concern** + **knows** us: as **close** as Trinity! + and **died** for our sins + not bc **weak**, overcome by evil + **authority** to lay down + authority to **take up** + ⇒ **power** of resurrection! + **why** lay down life for us? --- And they shall **know**
that I am the **LORD their God** with them [Ezekiel 34:30 (ESV)](# "ref") [Samuel Ferrara](https://unsplash.com/photos/IEHPDNk2-8w "caption") >>> + recurring theme in Ez + that we would **know** who God is + not a **religion** we constructed + **Creator** (made us) + Rescuer (sought us out) + Redeemer (laid down life) + we **know** Him, He **calls** to us: --- The sheep **hear** his voice,
and he **calls** his own sheep **by name**
and leads them out. [4](# "ref") When he has brought out all his own,
he goes **before** them,
and the sheep **follow** him,
for they **know** his voice. [John 10:3-4 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> --- "As for you, **My sheep**,
the sheep of My pasture, you are **men**,
and I am your **God**,” declares the Lord GOD. [Ezekiel 34:31 (NASB)](# "ref") [Great Smoky Mountains, USA. Jordan Whitt](https://unsplash.com/photos/b8rkmfxZjdU "caption") >>> + identity + relationship --- # Am I a **sheep** of God's pasture? >>> + hear Jesus **calling** to you + you **know** His voice ---