Ezekiel 34:10 (MEV) — 10 Thus says the Lord God: “I am against the shepherds.”

God called Ezekiel to be a “watchman” for the house of Israel.

” Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” (Ez. 33:7) He prophesied judgment, through Ezekiel, to the people and the leadership, to the sheep and the shepherds. In Chapter 34 God speaks through him to the religious leaders who were accountable for the physical and spiritual well-being of God’s people.

34:1-5 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The week you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness, you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts…”

The Lord said He was against the shepherds who scatter His flock all over the mountains and on every high hill. His sheep are scattered with no one to look for them. He said His sheep have become food for all the wild beasts since there was no shepherd to care for them, but, instead, the shepherds have fed themselves.

Every pastor should remember the words of the Lord, “I am against you,” as they mistreat, abuse, and use his people for their own financial and political gain.

It is a privilege to serve the people of God and not be taken lightly. As ministers of the gospel, we had better not scatter the people of God so that they become prey to the wicked one. We are meant to be servants, not the served. We are to care for the sheep, not to fleece them. Most pastors imagine themselves as “Jesus” standing up to the Pharisees in the Temple, when, in actuality, they are more likely one of the Pharisees that Jesus is telling, “Woe to you, hypocrite”.

We are called to heal, bind up, bring back and seek out the people of God. But instead, we have ruled with force and harshness. This causing them to scatter and become prey for Satan.

7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 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.”

And what was God’s solution to this wrong being committed by leadership?

“For thus says the Lord God: I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.” (34:11)

“I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.”

That is why Jesus came; to seek out the lost sheep of Israel. To do what couldn’t be done by wicked man. Just like Jesus is the second Adam, he is also the Good Shepherd. He did what non of us could do. But the warning against the self-appointed shepherds is still the same today, just read Acts 20:28.

Remember, even when we have no shepherd, we have the good shepherd. The good shepherd will feed us. The good shepherd will look for us. The good shepherd knows our name and he calls us to follow him.