Today, I am reading and commenting on Ezekiel 34-36.

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Today’s passage begins with two related prophecies: one concerning the shepherds God had appointed over His flock, the other concerning the way God’s sheep treated each other.  When I read what Ezekiel says about the shepherds I am reminded of Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep. I am convinced that Jesus had this passage, among others, in mind when He told that parable.  Here Ezekiel condemns the shepherds for feeding themselves from the flock, but not caring for the flock.  The shepherds met their own needs off of the flock, but they did not meet the needs of the flock.  Ezekiel lays out the job of those who lead Christ’s Church.  Their job is to strengthen those who need strengthening; to heal those who are sick; to bind up the wounds of the injured; to bring back those who stray; and seek out those who are lost.  Any of us who have a leadership position in the Church are called to do those things.  If we do not do those things, God is against us.  I do not want God to be against me, so I am going to strive to do all of those things…even though I’m not sure that I am one of the shepherds.  I’m not willing to take the chance that God views me as one and thus is against me because I haven’t done my job.

However, Ezekiel also has a message for those of you who are positive that you are not one of the shepherds God has appointed over His flock, for those who are convinced that they are only one of the sheep.  God will judge you if you trample on the spiritual food which God has given to those weaker than you.  God will judge you if you muddy the water where others go to drink of God’s Living Water.  God will judge you if you push away from Him those whose faith is weak.  Instead, you should make way for the weak to get to the good food and water.  God will judge you if you cause others to leave Him. Don’t do it.

Let us all work together to strengthen those who are weak in faith, to heal those who are spiritually sick, to bind the wounds of those who have been emotionally and spiritually injured, to bring back to God those who have wandered away, and actively seek out those who have been lost.  Instead of shouldering aside those who struggle to follow God, let us pick them up and carry them to Him.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.