Yahweh Will Save His Sheep through His Messianic Shepherd – Chapter 34 is probably one of the more familiar chapters in Ezekiel because of the Good Shepherd theme (v.11-34). It is naturally paralleled with Psalm 23 and John 10:7-18. There is a connection between this theme and Mt. 25:32-46. The Shepherd language also governs Lk 15:3-7, Jude 12, and Rev 7:17. 34:11-16 is the traditional OT for Misericordias Domini, the Second Sunday after Easter (also Proper 29A and Proper 19C for the Revised Common Lectionary in LSB). The metaphor of the shepherd is widespread in the ancient Near East. The picture of the gods as shepherds appears in Mesopotamian (Sumerian) and Egyptian literature. In Homer, Agamemnon, the leader of the Greeks against Troy, is called the “shepherd of the people” (Illiad, 2.243; Odyssey, 3.156). Yahweh Himself is often called or described as Israel’s Shepherd (Ps 23:1; Is 40:11; Micah 7:14; Ps 80:1). And the verb “to shepherd” often refers to Yahweh’s appointed ruler (Moses in Is 63:11; David in Ps 78:70-72; the pagan Persian king Cyrus in Is 44:28). Biblical usage sometimes expands to include the entire ruling class (Zech 10–11; Jer 23:1-6). Judgment Oracle against Predatory “Shepherds” (34:1-10) – No date or setting is given. Ezekiel’s vision is not primarily political or this-worldly. Yahweh’s real concern is that Israel may be free from spiritual captivity and enjoy the freedom only the Good Shepherd can establish. God’s Kingdom was rarely manifest to any great extent in the political order of ancient Israel. The problems and conditions of society at most tell us what we need to be saved from. Until the second coming of Christ, we will be plagued by evil shepherds of one sort or another. These include the political leaders whose chief concept of the o ce is to increase power, wealth, and status. But the proper application is to the church militant in a broad, visible sense. The severest judgment will be for church leaders who lead their ocks astray from the truth of God’s Word (Jn 17:17), particularly those who distort or ignore the person and work of Christ. It is not usually with malice and forethought but through negligence, alienation, and spiritual abuse. The language of sheep without a shepherd is similar to Micaiah’s description of Israel’s army about to be routed (1 Ki 22:17). The evangelists use the same language for the lost, on…
n