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Faithful Shepherds (Ezekiel 34)

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Why does a Christian need a church and a pastor?

  • Songs are accessible, not just on radio but on-demand.
  • Scripture is available in multiple languages, in addition books in stores and articles online to learn and grow in our faith, more than ever before in history.
  • Sermons with our favorite preachers and speakers can be curated to fit our interests – even played on 1.5 or 2x speed!
  • Livestreams make it easy to either stay home and not waste gasoline costs, comforts of home, and not have to deal with people.
  • The LORD hears our prayers anywhere!

But the reality is that churchless Christianity is empty. It’s unbiblical. Since the beginning of creation, God declared it “not good/beautiful” to be alone. And God designed faith to be connected to a family. It is disobedient to God to forsake gathering with others in Christian community, and spiritual suffocation to neglect the many “one another” commands in Scripture.

Churchless Christianity is empty. It’s unbiblical. Since the beginning of creation, God declared it “not good/beautiful” to be alone. And God designed faith to be connected to a family.

Further, a Christian without a pastor is foolish. The Bible doesn’t present pastors as optional accessories to the Christian life. Rather, pastors serve as shepherds who feed us, nurture our health, guides, and protects us. That doesn’t mean that pastors are more important than anyone else in the church. Each Christian has a gift and is a vital component of the body that must work together to stay health and function under the headship of Jesus Christ. Yet, the spiritual reality remains that pastors keep watch over our faith and will give an account to the Lord for souls; therefore, Christians are called to willfully and joyfully commit ourselves to God’s church (Hebrews 13:17). Besides, sheep are prone to wander, and God’s provision of pastors helps us remember that together is better.

BUT did you know[1]:

  • Over 50% of a pastor’s job is involved with tasks and responsibilities they were not trained for in seminary
  • Over 50% of pastors believe they will never be able to meet the expectations of their church; with higher percentages reporting experiencing significant conflict in their church 
  • Over 1/3 of pastors battle depression, fatigue, loneliness, and thoughts of suicide
  • 70% of pastors do not feel they have someone they consider a genuine friend.
  • An overwhelming percentage of society views the profession of a pastor as near the bottom of respected professions.
  • Only 10% of pastors will actually retire as a pastor; bc they will leave the ministry and seek alternate professions
  • Many denominations are reporting an “empty pulpit crisis” with a shortage of ministers due to aging clergy, church financial shortages, and pastoral burnout
  • IN ALL: A pastor’s profession is like many other professions that face challenges and a shortage crisis in a changing society.

By God’s grace, SPBC contrasts many church trends of ongoing decline, significant conflict, or lack of pastoral leadership.

Today and next week we will share messages about the role of pastoral leadership and our opportunity to expand our elder team with 3 new candidates (11/16 testimonies & 11/23 vote). 

EXAMINE         Ezekiel 34:1-10

  • Ezekiel name = God will strengthen
  • Lived in Jerusalem during Babylonian invasion (~597BC)
  • On verge of becoming a priest at 30 y/o, but was exiled
  • Yet, Lord spoke to Ezekiel to prophesy (8:1). He was an odd prophet – heavy visions of God’s glory that essentially paralyzed him for a week; some say it looks like a UFO! (3:15)/ he ate food cooked over dung (4:13)/ he cut his hair & beard and chopped the hair up with a sword (5:1, ff) / wife died during ministry (24:18) / even preached to skeleton bones (37).
  • However, the people were stubborn and rejected God’s message (2:1-7). So, Ezekiel goes into exile with the Jews with a future promise that God will “remove their heart of stone and give them a new, soft heart” to love and follow God (11:19).
  • Sadly, Jerusalem would be overwhelmed, the temple destroyed, and the people slaughtered or exiled. Yet, God also gives Ezekiel mysterious visions of future events with vivid imagery of multiple nations joining together in a royal battle against God’s people (Ez 38-39). But God will draw His sword to execute justice with fire and brimstone, and make His holy name known among all who have profaned Him. The nations will be buried and the temple of God revived.
  • Overall, God’s people study the book of Ezekiel bc
    a) it’s 1 of 66 [2],
    b) heightens God’s holiness and humbles us to repentance,
    c) illuminates the role of prophets and shepherd leaders with God’s people,
    d) gives a hint of future eschatology.

Ezekiel 34
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

prophesy against…  

Some religions are unclear about the divine or inconsistent on what is expected from its adherents. In contrast, the Christian God is not ambiguous. The Bible clearly states three persons of a Triune Deity: Father-Son-Spirit equally divine yet distinct persons and role. Further, the Bible gives details for how followers of Jesus are to live.

The OT has many ceremonial and civil laws that made God’s people distinct. However, Jesus has fulfilled the law so that Christians are no longer under such rules, but in a grace relationship with God to follow moral boundaries that are wise and good for us.

The Bible makes plain what God hates:

  • Pr 6:16-19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
  • God hates vain worship to created images (Dt 7:25; 17:3-4; 18:10; Isa 1:13; Am 5:21) and despises vile practices like child sacrifice, homosexuality, bestiality, (Lev 18:22-23); etc…
  • What does God require? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Mic 6:8)

prophesy against… the shepherds of Israel

Shepherds = leaders.[3] Notice that God wants Ezekiel to prophesy against Israel’s leadership. Leadership is not all about the limelight with perks and benefits. Leadership is stewardship of responsibility. And God holds leaders to an uncompromising standard.

The spiritual shepherds of Israel during Ezekiel’s time were not men of God.

  • They were prophets who claimed to speak for God, but did not. They were familiar with faith vocabulary, but they were ignorant of the LORD (Ez 4).
  • They were leaders who shed blood, mistreated parents, oppressed foreign residents, neglected the poor, extorted neighbors, and abused widows; and committed lewd acts (Ez 22). Ezekiel sought persons to stand in the gap for the nation, but there was none (22:30).

Israel wandered away from God, partly because they were selfish, but also partly because they were led to practice the same selfishness, uncompassionate, and sinful behaviors of their ungodly leadership. Thus, this passage provides us characteristics for faithful shepherds.

Faithful shepherds serve others.
2 Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock… 4You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Israel’s shepherds saw their position as an opportunity for a great platform, rather than service. They ate at feasts, first in buffet lines; held lavish parties, and slept in temperature controlled housing while the citizens slaved and suffered.

I know it’s hard to consider, but imagine a nation’s leaders creating laws that impacted the citizens but exempted themselves; they had insider stock tips to pad their retirement accounts but the people’s social security was robbed for government spending on pet projects; and if gov was shutdown, then the leaders continued getting paid but citizens were left to starve. / a stretch… /
 but Ezekiel’s day was worse.

  • Jesus said, “whoever wants to be great, must serve others… even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:26-28)
  • Greatest prophet said, “God must increase, I must decrease” (Jn 3:30)
  • Php 2:3 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourself”
  • 1Pet 5:2-3 “shepherd the flock of God, not under compulsion for shameful gain, not domineering over those in your charge, but being an unselfish example”

> Praise Jesus for serving thru sacrifice.

> Express gratitude for those who do what few will. Watch for those who hold doorknobs, broom handles, and carry bags. 

> Let’s be a host of gracious and generous helpers in our family, our neighborhoods, and our church. *serve someone with meal or message… *pray
1Jn 3:19 “Beloved, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth”

Faithful shepherds strengthen the weak.

4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured.

Ezekiel’s setting was a time of chaos and crisis. Surrounding nations viewed them as an easy target. Israel’s military was no match for the increasing dynasties in successive centuries.

Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel, who had been exiled to Babylon about 8 years prior. Scholars estimate about 15-20K Israelites were exiles. Psalms were written:

“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows’ there we hung up our instruments. For there our captors required of us songs and our tormentors saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ [But] how shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land? (Ps 126) 

The exiles were weak, sick, and injured physically and spiritually.[4] They had lost their song – their peace that passes all understanding – their refuge in the rock of their salvation – and their hope that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Apparently, the shepherds could not be bothered to equip their nation to navigate international politics. And they relied on human power more than divine strength, as the shepherds were not responsible enough to warn the citizens not to put their hope in chariots and earthly comforts (Ps 20:6). 

The reality is that shepherds cannot change the world until they change the one. Jesus taught us how to strengthen the weak with a parable. We must not be like the religious leaders who pass by the wounded souls along our journey. Instead, we are called to stop – to look people in the eye and see them as someone’s child; one who matters; someone whom we can do our part to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recovering sight of the blind, liberty to the oppressed, and proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor (cf Lk 4:18-19).

Shepherds cannot change the world until they change the one.


> Are you living in exile – feeling empty, forgotten, or hurt? The book of Ezekiel is reminding you that God still shines His glory to dark places, and He still sends prophets to revive valleys of dry bones.

> Where are the weak in our world needing Christians to show up as hands and feet, and the fragrant aroma of Christ?
It might start with a shoebox…

> Who do you know that is spiritually unhealthy or physically impaired? You may not be a nurse or doctor, but you can pray and minister with your presence.  

Faithful shepherds search for the lost.

4 You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost.

 Instead of having leaders who cared for everyone, Israel’s leaders were unfaithful and unloving. They failed to care for the flock. They failed to protect the flock from foxes or wolves. And they failed to pursue sheep that strayed, or search for the lost.

Imagine going shopping or out to a park with your family. You enjoy a beautiful day and after time you’re ready to return home. However, a member of your family is missing. Instead of being worried to search for them, you nonchalantly get in the car and go home. – – – Unheard of!

Likewise, the shepherd in Jesus’ parable leaves the 99 sheep in the open field to go after the one lost.

So, the result is the nation was scattered and alone, unguided and rudderless, unprotected and prey to wild animals, and unmissed by the people that needed them the most – the dark world without good news, spiritual light, or confident hope (vv.5-6).

So, God promised to do what no one else could do. Instead of creating another system, God became the solution. Jesus became what we needed to bring us where we could not go on our own.

7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. 11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out… I will gather them together… 14-16 I will feed them… I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep and make them lay down… I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak…
23 I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David…
26-27 I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing – they shall by showers of blessing. And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase”

God never gave up on His sheep.

He is the ultimate Good Shepherd. Jesus is the door of the sheep, and all others are liars and thieves. Jesus laid down His life for the sheep. He leads us to still waters and green pasture, and no one can snatch us out of His grasp.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

Today, God gives us shepherds and leaders for our families and our church.

May SPBC commit to GOSPEL…

  • God: as worshipers of Jesus Christ
  • Others: loving each as family
  • Spiritual Growth: as thermostats impacting our world with truth and love
  • Prayer: as warriors relying on God’s strength and wisdom
  • Evangelism: being sent to seek after straying sheep and sinful 
  • Legacy: to grow godly generations that we might fight the good fight, and hear the words – “Well done. Enter the joy of our master.”

So, what hinders you from being found by the Good Shepherd?

Will you give your heart to Jesus today?

Will you share God’s heart for the harvest? 
Friends – this church is a hospital for unhealthy sheep and impaired sinners. Let us go after 1 #WhosYour1?

[1] Statistics come from a variety of sources, but here is a sample collection: https://allpropastors.org/pastors-portal/pastor-statistics/

[2] Though Jews were warned not to read Ezekiel, like Song of Solomon, due to its graphic imagery.

[3] Kings (2Sam 5:2); National leaders (Jer 23; Ez 34; Pr 27:23); even God (Isa 40:11; Ps 23). See Elmer Gray, “Shepherd,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Chad Brand et al. (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1484.

[4] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2470.htm

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