One True Shepherd

August 26, 2012

Lesson: Ezekiel 34:23–31

Key Verse: Ezekiel 34:23

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Introduction

Reading through chapter 34, you cannot miss these two words “I will.” In the first section of the chapter, the Lord confronts the false shepherds who served only themselves; but only for a while, for the Lord declares, “I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them” (v. 10). The next segment begins with verse 11 and ends with verse 22, where the Lord promises to gather His people to Himself: “Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out” (v.11). Gathering together His people (His ekklesia, His ‘called out people) the Lord promises salvation: “Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle” (v. 22). Thus follows the last section, verses 23 to 31, where we learn the means by which He will redeem His people, revealing that they belong to him: “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd” (v. 23).

Contrasting the words “I will” with the words “I Am” reveals both the nature and work of Jehovah, the Almighty Creator, Savior, and Sustainer of His chosen people. He who said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”—the Prophet, Priest, and King—is the Lord our Shepherd who laid down His Life for the sheep, and providentially cares for each one. He who said “I am the good shepherd,” promised, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27–28).

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One Shepherd—Ezekiel 34:23–24

The Lord will appoint one shepherd over His people: “I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.” Matthew Henry understood these words as ultimately the setting apart the Son of God as the promised Messiah: “He shall be the great Shepherd of the sheep, who shall do that for his flock, which no one else could do. He is the one Shepherd, under whom Jews and Gentiles should be one fold. He is God’s servant, employed by him and for him, and doing all in obedience to his will, with an eye to his glory— his servant, to re-establish his kingdom among men and advance the interests of that kingdom. He is David, one after God’s own heart, set as his king upon the holy hill of Zion, made the head of the corner, with whom the covenant of royalty is made, and to whom God would give the throne of his father David. He is both the root and offspring of David.”

This is the Messiah, the Christ Incarnate, who said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). He is the only Shepherd who was able to give His life that His chosen people may have life: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13: 20–21). This is the Messiah, “Who his own self bare out sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:24–25).

Discussion: Why is Christ alone the Savior of our souls?

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Covenant of Peace—Ezekiel 34:25–28

The Lord speaks, saying “I will,” again acknowledging that there is no doubt that His word(s) will be accomplished. The Son of God, the Lord, spoke to His disciples: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). The glory of the Lord shining forth is so great an assurance: “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: and it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:10–11).

Thus by His word the Lord establishes a covenant between Him and His people: “And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places around about my hill a blessing: and I will cause the shower to come down in his season: there shall be showers of blessing.” The Lord will bring a covenant of blessing whereby the enemy will not hinder His goodness; for the covenant is of a heavenly design. The Prince of Peace will accomplish peace between God and His people: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:6–7).

This covenant of peace will now and ultimately be accomplished in our daily lives: “And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them. And they shall no more be prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.” There is strength as we live in the world and not of it, against the thrusts of those who seek to do us evil, with the hope in the word of God that we will be found in our Lord, victory: “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off” (Isa. 55:12–13).

Discussion: Why is it that we can have assurance of faith and life in Christ alone?

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Flock of God’s Pasture—Ezekiel 34:29–31

The flock of God’s pasture is confirmed to be His in this one true fact: “I am the Lord your God.” The Lord introduced His commandments with these words, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:2–3). No other could give to His people such deliverance. This same hope is given to His people who have been redeemed from their transgressions. No other could deliver them from eternal death to eternal life: “Being born again, not of corrupt seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23); therefore, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). We therefore hear the word of the Lord: I am the Lord thy God, who has delivered you out of darkness into the Light of Christ, who redeemed you with His own precious blood!

The peculiar people whom God has redeemed for Himself is revealed by the Lord to Ezekiel His prophet: “And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I am the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.” Christ is our Good Shepherd; He is with His sheep (people), and they follow Him with joy and love: Christ enters into their midst, by the door as “the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice” (Christ Jesus, John 10:1–4). Our Savior, our Shepherd, knows us by name; how glorious it is that He knew us from the foundation of the world; and not only that, He knew us, know our names, when upon the cross of Calvary He paid the ransom price, taking upon Himself our sins and its punishment, that we might have forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting, making peace for us between the Father and us.

Discussion: What does it mean for us to be a part of the flock of God?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.