In Psalm 80 Asaph addresses God as the Shepherd of Israel and likens His people to a flock. In Psalm 100 Israel takes the ground of being Jehovah’s people and “the sheep of His pasture.” Jeremiah, too, in the same strain, speaks of God’s ancient people as a “beautiful flock” (Jer. 13:20). But while God always remained the Great Shepherd of Israel, He also delegated authority to under-shepherds who were responsible to care for the flock. In the exercise of this responsibility the shepherds lamentably failed, and as a result the flock was ruined and scattered. In Ezekiel 34 we have a solemn denunciation of these under-shepherds for the violation of their trust. In the first four verses, three distinct charges are brought against them. They are charged with using their position to exalt themselves at the expense of the flock, with having utterly neglected the flock, and with having ruled God’s flock “with force and with cruelty.”
The Under-Shepherds
But the failure of the shepherds of Israel has been repeated, alas, by the shepherds of God’s people today, for in this day also God has His flock. The Lord Jesus gathered a company of Jewish believers around Himself, and afterward Gentile believers were also added, so that there would be “one [flock] and one Shepherd” (John 10:16). The Lord Himself is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep and the Great Shepherd who rose from the dead — the One who has triumphed over the power of death. But the Lord is also the Chief Shepherd, and as such He has again delegated the oversight of His flock to under-shepherds. Paul, in his farewell address to the elders of the church at Ephesus, gives the under-shepherds a solemn charge in Acts 20:28-35. He warns them to take heed to themselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers. He gives them a threefold exhortation in reference to the flock, which answers to the threefold denunciation of the shepherds of Israel.
First, instead of exalting themselves, they are exhorted to “feed the church of God” (vs. 28). Second, instead of neglecting the sheep, they are to “watch” and “support the weak” (vss. 31,35). Third, instead of ruling with “force and cruelty,” they are to remember “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (vs. 35).
Peter’s Threefold Charge
Furthermore, Peter, before his departure, gives a threefold charge to the under-shepherds (1 Peter 5:14). First, they are exhorted to “feed the flock of God.” Second, they are to care for the flock, “taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.” Third, they are warned not to lord it over God’s heritage. They are not to drive the flock but to lead as “ensamples to the flock.”
But, as we have seen, these are the very things in which the shepherds of old so signally failed. Instead of feeding the flock they fed themselves; instead of taking the oversight they neglected the flock; instead of being ensamples they ruled the flock with harshness and cruelty. And, alas, as the shepherds of Israel failed, so the shepherds of the Christian flock have failed, and with a like result. Turning again to Ezekiel 34, we find the prophet, in verses 56, depicting the pitiful condition of God’s flock as a result of the failure of the shepherds. The sheep are scattered for the lack of a shepherd to lead and have become a prey to the beasts of the field. Harassed by the beasts of prey they wander through all the barren mountains and on every high hill. Instead of one flock — one beautiful flock — we have scattered, harassed and wandering sheep with none to search or seek after them. And what a solemn and striking picture of the condition of God’s people today! As a result of the failure of the leaders, God’s people have been scattered, and being scattered they have fallen a prey to the enemy. United they could have resisted the inroads of the enemy, but scattered they fall an easy prey to every evil, and under the power of evil they are starving and wandering in a solitary way in this barren world. Having portrayed the sorrowful condition of the sheep, the Lord proceeds to pass sentence upon the responsible shepherds: “Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand” (vss. 7-10). But if God is against the shepherds, He is for the sheep, and in the verses that follow we have a magnificent description of how God shepherds His flock. And as the Chief Shepherd acts, so should the under-shepherds. Thus in these verses (vss. 11-16) we have the perfect example for the truehearted shepherd, whether in Israel or among God’s people today. We do well to take to heart the sevenfold actings of the Chief Shepherd as set forth in these touching verses.
Seven Actions of the Shepherd
First, God says, “Behold I, even I, will . . . search for My sheep.” They have been scattered, and they have wandered, but they are “Mine,” says God, and “I will search for them.” May we never forget, whatever the condition of the sheep, they belong to Christ.
Second, having sought them, He “tends” them, for thus the passage should read, “I will both search for My sheep, and tend them. As a shepherd tendeth his flock in the day that he is among his scattered sheep” (Ezek. 34:11-12 JND). His sheep are the objects of His tender care. After the Good Samaritan found that poor wounded man and bound up his wounds, he brought him to an inn and “took care of him,” and before he left, he put the man in the charge of the host, saying, “Take care of him.” He seems to say to the host, “Do what I have been doing.” We have failed to act the part of the host. We have failed in tending the sheep. But not only does the Lord tend His sheep, but He does it in a very blessed way. It is not as one far removed in some high position giving directions for the care of the sheep, but it is as a shepherd “among his sheep that are scattered.”
Third, further, the Lord says, “I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” While leaders are busy darkening the sky with their controversies, the enemy is busy scattering the sheep. But the Lord will deliver. Not one of His sheep will be left behind when He acts in delivering power.
Fourth, the Lord does not deliver His people from the powers of the enemy and then leave them. He also “gathers” them, and so we read, “I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries.” “Separation” and “gathering” must go together. Separation without gathering only puffs up and leads to the spirit of the Pharisee and to further scattering. When the Lord separates His people from evil, He gathers them around Himself, for Christ is God’s great gathering center.
Fifth, what does God do with His delivered and gathered saints? He “will bring them to their own land” (vs. 13). There is a company we can call our own (Acts 4:23), and there is a country we can call our own. It is a heavenly country, but, alas, as the result of the scattering of the sheep the heavenly calling of God’s people is almost unknown, and the people of God have settled down in this world. Israel has been scattered and lost their land. Christians have been scattered and have lost the truth of their heavenly calling. But when God takes His people in hand, whether earthly or heavenly, it will be to “bring them to their own land.” If gathered by the Lord, it is that we may be led by the Lord into our own country.
Sixth, having led His flock into their own land, the Lord “feed[s] them in a good pasture.” The true food for the Christian is in the heavenly country. When the children of Israel were brought to their own land, they fed upon the old corn of the land (Josh. 5:11-12). Passing through the wilderness, we need Christ as the manna, but as a heavenly people we feed upon Christ as “the old corn of the land.” We need to feed upon all the glories and perfections of Christ in the place where He is, for what we feed upon forms us.
Seventh, lastly, in that heavenly land He gives His people rest: “I will cause them to lie down” (vs. 15). In this world there is no lasting rest for the people of God, but “there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (Heb. 4:9). When we awake in His likeness we shall be satisfied. He will make us to lie down in perfect rest, and “He will rest in His love” (Zeph. 3:17).
How perfect are the ways of the Chief Shepherd of the sheep! In the light of this perfect example of shepherd care, may we have grace to judge our past failures and seek, for the little time that may yet remain, to shape our service according to this divine standard. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, we “shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 5:4).
H. Smith,
Scripture Truth, 10:9