10 September

Bible in 365 Days

Ezekiel 34-36

Ezekiel 34

The next prophecy dealt ultimately with the one Shepherd. It opened with an indictment of the false shepherds through whom all these evil things had happened to the people. Their sin had been that they had ministered to themselves. Feeding themselves and clothing themselves, they had not fed the sheep, neither had they ministered to the diseased and the sick and the broken and the needy. The result of the failure of the shepherds was that the people were scattered, and had become a prey of the beasts of the field. Because of all this, Jehovah was against the shepherds, and would deliver the sheep.

That deliverance the prophet then described in language full of beauty. Jehovah said, "I Myself, even I, will search . . . and seek . . . and deliver . . . and bring them out . . . and gather them . . . bring them in . . . and feed them . . . and cause them to lie down . . . and bind up . . . and strengthen."

Continuing the same message, the prophet proceeded to declare that the action of Jehovah would be not merely delivering, but also governing. In the gracious words declaring His shepherd care, the last statement was, "I will feed them in judgment." That is explained in the following paragraph, in which the discrimination and administration of Jehovah are manifest, in that He judges between cattle and cattle, and prevents the strong from treading down the pasture to the injury of the weak.

Finally, there was the gracious and glorious promise of the one Shepherd, for the description of whom the prophet borrowed the name of the king who had most perfectly realized in the history of the people the purpose of God. In the fulness of time the one Shepherd appeared, and in a mystery of iniquity the sheep whom He would have gathered flung Him out to the beasts. The men of Israel, "by the hands of lawless men did crucify and slay," and they have been scattered more widely and terribly than ever.

Ezekiel 35

The prophet next described the new order by contrasting Mount Seir with the mountains of Israel. Jehovah announced Himself as against Mount Seir, and as stretching out His hand in order to make it a desolation and an astonishment. The sin of Mount Seir had been perpetual and persistent enmity to the children of Israel, and that even in the time of their calamity. Therefore its judgment would be perpetual desolation. Mount Seir had lusted to possess the lands of Israel and Judah. And because of their envy judgment would fall on them and they would be dispossessed of their own lands, and be made desolate.

Ezekiel 36

In contrast with Mount Seir the prophet placed the mountains of Israel, as he delivered the word of the Lord to them. They had been the scorn of their enemies, who had made them desolate and swallowed them up. Therefore Jehovah would proceed against these enemies, and deliver Israel from their oppression. As a result of such deliverance, the whole land, its mountains and its hills, its water courses and its valleys would be made abundantly fruitful. Men would be multiplied, the cities inhabited, and the waste places built.

In the midst of this promise of deliverance comes a great revelation of the secret of all: "Behold, I am for you." The prophet was then charged to explain this prediction of ultimate restoration by first affirming that their own sin caused their suffering.

Then anew and with greater clearness, he declared the reason for their restoration. Jehovah had pity for His holy name, and both by reprobation and restoration moved toward the sanctification of His name among the nations.

The prophet then declared the method of their restoration. Gathered by God out of all countries, the people would be cleansed inwardly and spiritually, and be enabled to do right by being brought into a new fellowship with the Spirit of God.

The results of the restoration would be their repentance and the return of all that prosperity which through sin they had forfeited, and, consequently, a renewal of their witness to the nations round about of truth concerning Jehovah.