“The weak have ye not strengthened, nor have ye healed the sick, and ye have not bound up what was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought for that which was lost; but with harshness and with rigor have ye ruled over them. And they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill, and My sheep have been scattered upon all the face of the earth, and there was none that searched, or that sought for them” (Ezek. 34:46 JND).
This passage is very searching. Where, beloved fellow-servants of Christ, are the shepherds today? How have the sheep of Christ been handled?
Our passage presents a case where we learn from negatives. May we allow its exhortation to stir our hearts! It is obvious that Israel’s shepherds did not do what should have been done. Let us briefly consider each of the Holy Spirit’s indictments.
“The weak have ye not strengthened”
It is interesting that this is the first need considered. The weak among us need attention, brethren. They need to be strengthened, supported and sustained (Acts 20:28; 1 Thess. 5:14). Is there not instead the unhappy tendency to despise and neglect the weak?
“nor have ye healed the sick”
Are we alert to signs of sickness in the Lord’s sheep? How important is the healing ministry that administers the right remedy in such cases! Spiritual sickness has signs just as does physical sickness. Listlessness, fever, an impaired walk all are warnings of sickness. How blessed is a healing ministry in such cases. In some circles, there is much emphasis today on physical healing but little care about spiritual sickness, which is far more serious.
“ye have not bound up what was broken”
Oh, the precious sheep that have been broken! Health, family problems, assembly problems: Do we recognize the wounded and seek to bind up such?
“neither have ye brought again that which was driven away”
It is a solemn fact, beloved, that we have driven some of the Lord’s sheep away. Oh, they should not have gone away, but do we understand and feel for those who were driven away? How blessed it is to seek and bring back such! I am afraid our tendency is to write them off and quote in defense of that scriptures such as, “Let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them,” or, “They went out from among us, but they were not of us.” In both cases, the Scripture is grossly misinterpreted.
“neither have ye sought for that which was lost”
How many of God’s sheep have gotten lost in the confusion characterizing Christendom today! It is clear from this scripture that these dear sheep should be sought, not shunned. I do not, of course, speak of those who lead in departure, but rather those sheep who were led away. A shepherd with the love and heart of Christ will be given divine discernment to differentiate.
“with harshness and with rigor have ye ruled over them”
I feel the shame of that statement. They are His precious ones and should be treated with that very tenderness He ever shows His own. There is no place for harshness or rigor in the handling of His sheep.
Many years ago, my father-in-law accompanied me on a business trip from Geneva to Zurich, Switzerland. We looked up a brother there I had known from my youth a real pastor of the Lord’s sheep. As we visited, I saw a painting of sheep with a shepherd hung over his desk. He told me it was to remind him of how very precious the sheep are to Christ.
One other passage comes to mind, again teaching from the negative Zechariah 11:16-17 and giving an additional consideration: “Nor feed that that standeth still” (“that which is sound”; JND).
It is touching to note that, with all the problems of the weak, sick, broken, straying and driven away sheep, God reminds us of the vital need of feeding and caring for the healthy sheep those which stand still (are sound).
May God help those who are under-shepherds, to whom the care of His sheep has been entrusted, to discharge that responsibility faithfully and with genuine love for Christ and His dear sheep.
“When the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4).
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you” (1 Peter 5:2 JND).
R. K. Gorgas