[Sung Psalm: 23]
What does it mean when Jesus says that he is the good shepherd? Ezekiel 34 is an important part of the background for this image.
Three thousand years ago God called a shepherd boy to be king. All the tribes of Israel gathered at Hebron and declared David their king. David had delivered Israel from the Philistines, and God had promised that David "shall be shepherd of my people Israel."
What did it mean that David would "shepherd...my people Israel"? Well, a shepherd leads his flock, feeds his flock, and defends his flock from their enemies. Sheep are pretty helpless.
A shepherd who leads and feeds – but doesn't defend – has just fattened up the sheep for the slaughter!
So when David is identified as a shepherd of Israel, he is identified as the one who will lead, feed, and defend his people, just like Yahweh leads, feeds and defends David. And David's sons, and Yahweh's priests, were called to be shepherds after him.
But the most devastating critique of Israel's latter shepherds comes from Ezekiel 34. "Shepherds are supposed to feed the sheep–not slaughter them! "The weak 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."
God promises that he will feed his sheep and protect them. "And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them. And I, Yahweh, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them."
God promises that he will come and be the shepherd who seeks out his sheep and defends them... |
