Monarchs

The Lord Will Seek Them Out

Ezekiel has a story to tell about the kings that had not cared for the people. We start today with a reminder that Samuel had been the Judge over the people and they come to him to discuss that his sons are not like Samuel.

English Standard Version Chapter 8

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

In the days of Ezekiel the kings were referred to as Shepherds. This passage could get confusing for someone who might refer to the Shepherd as the pastor. The pastor is a shepherd but what Ezekiel is referring to here are the kings who have left the people to fend for themselves. The God says, Ezekiel 34:11 (NRSV)

God, the True Shepherd

11 For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. God knew that kings would fail the people and yet He told Samuel to do as the people said. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

Have you ever thought about the decisions that you make? I believe all decisions have consequences, would you agree? Does this remind you of Psalm 23? The next few verses tell us that God will lead us to green pastures. In those days, the sheep generally grazed on the hillsides and the fields were in the valleys. God says I am going to bring my people back to me. To a land rich. They will lie down. Sheep will eat their fill and when satisfied they will generally lie down. Not unlike most men after filling themselves with Thanksgiving turkey and dressing.

Ezekiel 34:20 (NRSV)

20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. During this time of the sheep being scattered a lot of the problem was of Israel themselves. Some of the people(sheep) got fat or rich off of their brothers and sister, at their expense. These are bad sheep who do not follow the commandment of loving their neighbor as themselves. They loved themselves more than their neighbors.

Ezekiel 34:21–24 (NRSV)

21 Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22 I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

23 I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

So, God reverses the problems, somewhat of the peoples decision to have a king appointed over them. The kings(shepherds) took advantage of the sheep and scattered the sheep. God will appoint King David over them and later His Son King Jesus will come from the good shepherd David to restore the sheep.

Ask yourself, “today, do I play a part in the sheep being scattered?” What could we be doing better to restore God’s order in our community? Let us first start with ourselves. Let us begin to love our neighbor as we want to be loved. Pray against those who lean on the sheep to scatter them of cause the weak to stumble. Let us be a church extending a safe sanctuary of green grass. A place where all can come to receive the blessings of the Lord.

God will lead us to the Promised Land full of milk and honey and we will have His presence as a light on a hill.