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One-sentence summary: The Lord judges the selfish shepherds of Israel and promises to be their true Shepherd.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel, and He tells him to prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. The Lord pronounces woe on the shepherds who feed themselves when they should have been feeding the flocks. They "have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound the broken, or sought what was lost," but instead "ruled with force and cruelty." So the sheep were scattered over the face of the earth and became food for the beasts of the field, and no one sought or searched for them. Therefore, the Lord says that He is against the shepherds and will require His flock at their hand. They will feed themselves no more, and He will deliver His flock from their mouths. He says He himself will search for His sheep and seek them out; He will gather them from the peoples and bring them to their own land and feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys, and in all the inhabited places of the country- in good pasture, on the high mountains of Israel. They will lie down and feed in rich pastures on the mountains; the Lord will feed them and make them lie down. He will "seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, build up the broken and strengthen what was sick." But as for the fat and strong shepherds, the Lord will "feed [them]with judgment." To His flock, He says He will also "judge between sheep and sheep, between the rams and goats," and between "the fat and the lean sheep." He says the fat sheep have butted and scattered the lean ones; therefore, the Lord will save HIs flock, and they will no longer be a prey. He will establish one Shepherd over them- His Servant David- who He will feed them and be their Shepherd, and the Lord will be their God. And He will make a covenant of peace with them; they will "dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods." The place around them will be a blessing; there will be showers of blessings in their season. The earth will yield her increase and the trees their fruit. They will be safe in the land, and they will know He is the Lord, when He delivers them and "breaks their yoke." The Lord will raise up a garden for them, and they will no longer be hungry or "bear the shame of the Gentiles." They will know the Lord is with them and that they, the house of Israel, are His people. Then, they will know He is the Lord.
The word of the Lord comes and tells Ezekiel to prophesy against Mt. Seir. The Lord says that He is against it and will stretch out His hand against it and make it desolate. Then, they will know He is the Lord. This is because they have had "an ancient hatred" and have shed the blood of Israel "in the day of their calamity." Since they "have not hated blood, blood will pursue [them.]" The mountains, hills, and valleys will be filled with the slain. They boasted against the Lord, and the earth will rejoice when they become desolate, just as they rejoiced when Israel became desolate- Mt. Seir and all of Edam. Then, they will know He is the Lord.
The Lord tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel. He says that because the enemy has said they belong to them, and because they made HIs people desolate- and because they have born the shame of the nations- He therefore says to the mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys of Israel that the nations around them will bear their own shame. But as for them, they will shoot forth their branches and yield their fruit to His people, Israel. The Lord says He is for them, and He will multiply men upon them; the cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. They will "do better than at their beginnings." Then, they will know He is the Lord. They will belong to Israel. Because the nations have said they have devoured men and bereaved their nation of children, they will not do so again. Nor will they bear the reproach of the people anymore or cause their nation to stumble anymore. The word of the Lord comes again and also says that when Israel was in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. He says that it was "like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity". So He poured out His fury on the land and scattered them among the nations, for their idol worshipping and shedding of blood, and He judged them according to their deeds. They profaned the Lord's name wherever they went, but the Lord had concern for His holy name. He says He is doing this not for their sake but for His holy name's sake; He will sanctify His great name. Then, when He is hallowed in them before their eyes, they will know He is the Lord. He will gather them from all the nations, bring them to their own land, and sprinkle clean water on them, and they will be clean; He will cleanse them from their filthiness and their idols. He will give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them and remove the heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. He will put His spirit within them and cause them to walk in His ways. They will keep His commands, and they they will dwell in the land He gave their fathers. They will be His people, and He will be their God. Then, they will remember their evil ways and "loathe themselves for their iniquities and abominations." The Lord says to let it be known that this is not for their own sake. They should be ashamed for their own ways. The ruins will be rebuilt, and people will say "the desolate land has become like the garden of Eden." Then, the nations left all around them will know the Lord has rebuilt the ruined places. He will also let Israel inquire of Him, and He will increase them like a flock; they will be as a holy sacrifice. Then, they will know that He is the Lord.
Thoughts/discussion:
The Lord is a good shepherd! He is the perfect Leader and Guide! You can trust Him completely to take care of you and meet all of your needs!