Eze 34:14 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD Himself will take the place of the unfaithful shepherds who feed themselves and take care of His sheep ( ). We see in the actions described of Him in how He is busy and working toward His goal: He searches, seeks, delivers, leads out, leads in and feeds. He will search for His sheep, to know where they are, and seek them out. When He finds them, He delivers them from the claws of the enemy and He leads them out of the hostile environment. Then He brings them to their land, where He feeds them by refreshing streams of water and makes them live safely. What a Shepherd He is! He shows His interest in His sheep by Himself searching for them and seeking them out. His interest is evident not only in His words, but also in His actions. He goes in search of His sheep, as a true shepherd does ( ; ). He is committed to make His scattered sheep one flock again. For this purpose He delivers them from all the places “to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day”. Here we can think of the day of the destruction of Jerusalem (cf. ; ). Further, it applies to the time when the LORD will bring His sheep back from exile and scattering into their own land ( ). There they will find fertile soil and water and places to live. When He, as their true Shepherd, has brought them back, He will not leave them to their own devices either, but will care for them in His land and provide them with everything they need ( ). They will also be able to lie down safely, without fear of enemies. This situation did not occur at the return from the Babylonian exile, but refers to the time of the realm of peace. The LORD points out that He will do what the false shepherds have failed to do ( ). He cares for the lost, strayed, broken and sick. He seeks the lost, He brings back the scattered, He binds up the broken and He strengthens the sick. His whole heart goes out to them and all His actions are beneficial. In contrast, He will wipe out sheep that do not belong in His flock. “The fat and the strong” are the wicked among the people who have enriched themselves at the expense of their poor and weak peers. When He has destroyed them, He will take their place. He Himself will feed His sheep as it should be. He will not bend the law, as the false shepherds have done, but will deal with His sheep in a righteous way, as it should be expected of a good shepherd ( ). He will do so as His Servant David ( ), the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, Who is Himself the LORD. He is the true Shepherd-King of His people. He is Shepherd first and in that capacity also King.

‏ Ezekiel 34:14

The LORD Himself Feeds His Sheep

The LORD Himself will take the place of the unfaithful shepherds who feed themselves and take care of His sheep (Eze 34:11). We see in the actions described of Him in Eze 34:11-13 how He is busy and working toward His goal: He searches, seeks, delivers, leads out, leads in and feeds. He will search for His sheep, to know where they are, and seek them out. When He finds them, He delivers them from the claws of the enemy and He leads them out of the hostile environment. Then He brings them to their land, where He feeds them by refreshing streams of water and makes them live safely. What a Shepherd He is!

He shows His interest in His sheep by Himself searching for them and seeking them out. His interest is evident not only in His words, but also in His actions. He goes in search of His sheep, as a true shepherd does (Eze 34:12; Lk 15:4-7). He is committed to make His scattered sheep one flock again. For this purpose He delivers them from all the places “to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day”. Here we can think of the day of the destruction of Jerusalem (cf. Joel 2:2; Zep 1:15).

Further, it applies to the time when the LORD will bring His sheep back from exile and scattering into their own land (Eze 34:13). There they will find fertile soil and water and places to live. When He, as their true Shepherd, has brought them back, He will not leave them to their own devices either, but will care for them in His land and provide them with everything they need (Eze 34:14-15). They will also be able to lie down safely, without fear of enemies. This situation did not occur at the return from the Babylonian exile, but refers to the time of the realm of peace.

The LORD points out that He will do what the false shepherds have failed to do (Eze 34:16). He cares for the lost, strayed, broken and sick. He seeks the lost, He brings back the scattered, He binds up the broken and He strengthens the sick. His whole heart goes out to them and all His actions are beneficial.

In contrast, He will wipe out sheep that do not belong in His flock. “The fat and the strong” are the wicked among the people who have enriched themselves at the expense of their poor and weak peers. When He has destroyed them, He will take their place. He Himself will feed His sheep as it should be. He will not bend the law, as the false shepherds have done, but will deal with His sheep in a righteous way, as it should be expected of a good shepherd (Jn 10:10-15). He will do so as His Servant David (Eze 34:23), the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, Who is Himself the LORD. He is the true Shepherd-King of His people. He is Shepherd first and in that capacity also King.