Jesus - Saves

AdamsEve · Chief Honcho Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 1624

A New Leadership

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vv 23-24
God would shepherd his people in justice (v 16). Those who had taken advantage of the flock through their position as shepherds would be treated like all other sheep or goats.

Previous shepherds were likened to fat, sleek, and strong sheep because they had fed on the best pasture and drank the clear water. Out of lack of concern for the flock’s other members, they arrogantly had trampled the rest of the pasture and muddied the clear drinking water (vv 17-19). They had abused their positions of strength and “bullied” the other sheep, driving them away (v v 20-21). These “shepherds” would be judged and destroyed (vv 16-17, 20), for there was no place for such irresponsible behavior among leaders.

The Lord would deliver Israel from all distress, whether from poor leadership or from the predatory nations (v 22; vv 28-29).

The Lord would be Israel’s God; his servant David, the Messiah, would be Israel’s Ruler on earth after he restored Israel to her land.

The phrase “my servant David” regularly referred to the Messiah. Jeremiah equated the Messiah to the true Shepherd from the line of David, calling him “a righteous Branch,” “the LORD Our Righteousness” (Jer 23:5-6).

The identity is also implied elsewhere in the Prophets (Jer 30:9; Ezek 37:24-25; Hos 3:5).

In John 10 Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd” (v 14). In addition to describing the pastoral aspects of his ministry, it certainly appears that he had Ezekiel 34 in mind.

He was declaring to those discerning Jews that he was the true and righteous Shepherd of whom Ezekiel spoke—the Messiah. He would lay down his life for the sheep, not exploit them.

v 25
God will provide what His people need. There will be abundance. Freedom from bondage.

vv 26-27
God will bless them beyond imagination

vv 28-29
This is a blessing from God. Hunger will be no more and through all this Israel will gain a reputation.

v 30
Some of †he exiles returned after 538 BC. At that time there was harassment from near by people, crop failure and an unsubstantial existence.

There is a mixture in this passage of the hope for Jerusalem and the future messianic kingdom.

v 31
Psalms 95:7
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice,
( yesterday - today - forever )

Finally, the Lord encouraged Israel with the establishment of another covenant with them: the “covenant of peace” (vv 25-31; 37:26-28; 38:11-13; 39:25-29).

This covenant was not the new covenant. This peace covenant would be inaugurated in the future when the Lord had fulfilled all his other covenants with Israel.

First, this covenant guaranteed the ultimate removal of all foreign nations (“wild beasts”) from Israel’s land so that she might live securely (v 25; vv 13-15; 35:1-36:15; 38-39).

Second, God would bless Israel and her land with “showers of blessings.” The result would be full satisfaction from the land’s abundant produce (vv 26-27, 29; 36:16-37:28).

Third, Israel would live in complete security (vv 27-29; chs. 38-39). No longer would she be plundered or scorned by the nations. Never again would she experience famine.

Fourth, when God delivers Israel from all her captors and restores her safely to her land, then she will have realized that he truly is the Lord her God (v 27).

Fifth, the Mosaic formula of relationship between Israel and the Lord would become a reality. The Lord would truly become their God, and they would finally be his people, following his ways at every turn (vv 30-31; Exod 6:7; Deut 29:12-15).

According to Jeremiah, this relationship will be entered when Israel accepts the new covenant (Jer 31:31-34) instituted by the Mediator of that covenant, the Messiah (Heb 8:6).

Each of the following speeches elaborates an aspect of the peace covenant.

Ezekiel 35:1-36:15 describes how the foreign plundering nations would be removed and judged in preparation for Israel’s return to her own land.

Ezekiel 37:15-28 stresses the full reunion of the nation and the fulfillment of her covenants when this peace covenant is established.

Finally, Ezekiel 38-39 develops the concept of Israel’s permanent and complete security in the Lord, for he would prevent the final attempt by a foreign power (Gog) to possess Israel’s land and to plunder God’s people.

Israel could rejoice; for though she had experienced the cruel and incompetent leadership of recent rulers, she now was assured that God would provide perfect leadership through the Good Shepherd, the Messiah, who would care for her as a shepherd should. There was hope!

Recap

More hope, looking to the future and stressing the justice and mercy of God.

How can the idea of Jesus as our shepherd give us content today?

How can the church show that we are God’s people and He is our God?

What are the dangers that prevent us from feeling in our land today?

Prayer;
Dear Father in Heaven I pray we love You for Your grace and the care You have given us and we thank You so much for Your plan of the Messiah who comes to save us ,feed and protect us. Thank you for being faithful in Your word.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.

TGIF

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