God the True Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:17–31
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The character of the sheep is seen in their conduct (vv. 17-22). The wicked sheep are those that follow the conduct of the shepherds, oppressing the weaker sheep. God will not permit these wicked practices to continue. Instead He will rescue the oppressed and will judge the aggressors. He will judge between one sheep and another (v. 17; v. 22).

After judging the individual sheep, God will exercise His leadership by appointing a new shepherd (vv. 23-24). This shepherd, God stated, will be His servant David. Many see this as an allusion to Christ, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18), who descended from the line of David to be the King of Israel. However, nothing in Ezekiel 34:23 demands that Ezekiel was not referring to the literal King David who will be resurrected to serve as Israel’s righteous prince. David is referred to by name elsewhere in passages that look to the future restoration of Israel (Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 37:24-25; Hosea 3:5). So it seems this is a literal reference to a resurrected David.

God’s care and protection will result in peace for His people (vv. 25-31). I will make a covenant of peace with them. The peace that Israel has always longed for will be experienced. The land will enjoy peace and prosperity. Trees will bear fruit and the ground will yield its crops, and the people will be secure in their land, living in safety. God’s “covenant of peace“ looks forward to the blessings Israel will experience in the Millennium. This covenant will establish Israel in her land permanently with David as her shepherd. Later Ezekiel stated that the covenant of peace will also involve the rebuilding of God’s temple as a reminder of His presence (37:26-28).

Application

Peace in this passage means more than the absence of conflict. I want to be a leader who brings contentment and fulfilment to the lives of others through Jesus Christ our Lord.