Text: Ezekiel 34<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. Again, this prophecy is not dated, but it is likely that all of these undated prophecies came\nshortly after the fall of Jerusalem to explain to Israel why it happened.\n
II. This prophecy is directed to the shepherds of Israel – Ezekiel 34:1-6<\/p>\n A. These would be the rulers, judges, priests, and elders. The people who had\nresponsibility to care for others under their authority.\n 1. David was a shepherd, but was given charge of Israel – Psalm 78:70-71; II\nSamuel 5:2\n
2. Psalm 80:1 addresses God as the Shepherd of Israel<\/p>\n
3. Cyrus as a shepherd – Isaiah 44:28<\/p>\n
4. Jeremiah 10:21; 23:1-4<\/p>\n
5. Zechariah 11:17<\/p>\n
B. These people have placed their own wants over the needs of those under their care<\/p>\n 1. Those under them starve while they have more than they need – Isaiah\n56:11; Zechariah 11:3-8\n
2. They made no attempts to heal the spiritual wounds – Zechariah 11:15-17<\/p>\n C. They ruled by force, something specifically forbidden – Exodus 1:13-14; Leviticus\n25:43\n D. The result was that the people scattered as if they had no shepherds. They became\nprey for others.\n
1. I Kings 22:17<\/p>\n
2. Matthew 9:36<\/p>\n
E. Compare with elders in the church – I Peter 5:1-4<\/p>\n
III. God’s response – Ezekiel 34:7-16<\/p>\n
A. God speaks as the owner of a flock, the chief shepherd<\/p>\n
B. The wicked shepherds will be removed – Zechariah 10:3<\/p>\n
1. Their responsibility will be removed – Jeremiah 13:18-20<\/p>\n
2. Elders are to give an account of their actions – Hebrews 13:17<\/p>\n
C. God will take over the care – Psalm 102:19-20; 72:12-14; Psalm 23<\/p>\n 1. God’s sheep were scattered by Babylon (cloudy day) – Ezekiel 30:3; Joel\n2:2\n
2. He will seek out the scattered sheep – Jeremiah 23:3; Psalm 106:47<\/p>\n
3. Both Israel and Judah would be gathered – Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 30:3<\/p>\n 4. Where the wicked feed only themselves, God will care for His people –\nJeremiah 31:12-14; Psalm 23:1-2\n
5. Gentle care – Isaiah 40:11<\/p>\n
6. Ultimately, Jesus came – Luke 19:10; John 10:16<\/p>\n
a. The owner has more care than the hireling – John 10:11-12<\/p>\n
b. Jesus, too, would give care – John 10:9<\/p>\n
c. Jesus came to call the wicked – Mark 2:17<\/p>\n
IV. God addresses the flock, the people of Israel – Ezekiel 34:17-19<\/p>\n
A. God will act as judge over His flock<\/p>\n
1. Just as there will be a final judgment – Matthew 25:32-33<\/p>\n B. The people enjoyed the blessings of God, but they did not take care of what God\ngave them\n 1. Like those over them, they took what they wanted, but they left nothing for\nthose in poorer circumstances\n
2. Notice that it is similar to the charge against Pharaoh in Ezekiel 32:2<\/p>\n
V. God will judge between the wealthy and the poor – Ezekiel 34:20-31<\/p>\n
A. As at the end – Matthew 25:31-46<\/p>\n
B. There was no care for the weak – Zechariah 11:4-6; Psalm 72:12-14<\/p>\n
C. A descendant of David would become their one shepherd – Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15-17; John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; I Peter 2:25<\/p>\n
1. Jesus would reign – Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33<\/p>\n
D. The promise of a new covenant and God being with His people – Jeremiah 31:31-33<\/p>\n
1. It would be a covenant of peace – Isaiah 11:6-9; 35:9; Hosea 2:18<\/p>\n
E. God would abundantly bless His people – Zechariah 8:13<\/p>\n
1. God has been willing to do this – Malachi 3:8-12<\/p>\n
2. Blessings in Christ – Ephesians 1:3<\/p>\n
F. They would have safety – Jeremiah 30:10; 46:27; John 10:26-30<\/p>\n
G. They would be cared for – Isaiah 49:9-10; Matthew 6:25-33<\/p>\n
H. Then people would recognize God – Psalm 100:3<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEzekiel\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prophecy Against the Shepherds of Israel Text: Ezekiel 34 I. Again, this prophecy is not dated, but it is likely that all of these undated prophecies came shortly after the fall of Jerusalem to explain to Israel why it happened. II. This prophecy is directed to the shepherds of Israel – Ezekiel 34:1-6 A. These would be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":14352,"menu_order":23,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-64920","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14352,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/","url_meta":{"origin":64920,"position":0},"title":"A Study of Ezekiel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 27, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"A Study of Ezekiel by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The following are my class notes for teaching Ezekiel here in La Vista. They are presented here in hopes of helping you with your own study of Ezekiel. Contents Background to Ezekiel The Vision of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1) Ezekiel's Call to Preach\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/EzekielPreaching-239x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19433,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/prophecy-against-mount-seir-ezekiel-35\/","url_meta":{"origin":64920,"position":1},"title":"Prophecy Against Mount Seir (Ezekiel 35)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Prophecy Against Mount Seir Text: Ezekiel 35 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A prophecy against Edom \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Timing is uncertain, but some estimate that it was given 5 years before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Edom \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mount Seir belongs to the descendants of Esau. They had taken the land from the Horites - Deuteronomy 2:5, 12 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This prophecy\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22561,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/survey-of-the-bible\/survey-of-the-bible-ezekiel\/","url_meta":{"origin":64920,"position":2},"title":"Survey of the Bible: Ezekiel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Survey of the Bible: Ezekiel Text: Ezekiel 18:20-32 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel were all prophets during the same period of time. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeremiah stayed Judah and witnessed the collapse. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel was taken into captivity and lived among the captive Israelites \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daniel was taken as a boy to Babylon and became\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64926,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/prophecy-to-the-mountains-of-israel\/","url_meta":{"origin":64920,"position":3},"title":"Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel Text: Ezekiel 36 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This is a continuation of the prophecy against Edom, now focusing on the restoration of Israel - Ezekiel 36:1-3 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is directed to the mountains because the people have gone into captivity. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Figuratively it is directed to the people of\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68830,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-isaiah\/prophecies-against-babylon-assyria-and-philistia\/","url_meta":{"origin":64920,"position":4},"title":"Prophecies Against Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Prophecies Against Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia Text: Isaiah 13-14 Prophecy Against Babylon - Isaiah 13:1-14:23 These predictions are amazing when you realize that at the time Isaiah was recording them, Assyria was the dominant nation growing to its height of power. Babylonia was a small nation on the edge of\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64732,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/gods-response-to-evil\/","url_meta":{"origin":64920,"position":5},"title":"God’s Response to Evil","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 17, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"God's Response to Evil Text: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Scattering coals over the city - Ezekiel 10:1-7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel\u2019s attention is now returned to the throne of God \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The description is similar to that found in chapter 1 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel later states it is the same - Ezekiel 10:15 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a03.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The description is to\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64920","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64920"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64920\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}