Broadcast
The Good Shepherd - Part 2
Ezekiel 34:13
04/16/2024
13 ``And I will bring them out from the peoples and
gather them from the countries, and will bring
them into their own land. And I will feed them on
the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in
all the inhabited places of the country.'' (ESV)
The prophecies spoken by Ezekiel certainly saw their
fulfillment as God caused the children of Israel to return from
Babylon to Jerusalem.
``And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather
them from the countries, and will bring them into their
own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of
Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places
of the country.''
This promise, however, was not only for the children of
Israel, to bring them hope and comfort while they were exiles in
Babylon, but to tell us of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. It
is the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who laid down His life for the
sheep. It is the Good Shepherd who took up His life again so to
bring eternal life to His flock.
Yes, God gathered the scattered, exiled Jewish people from
Babylon and returned them to the land once promised to Abraham.
But showing even greater love, God gathered people from all
tribes and nations to be part of His Kingdom, the Church. The
message of hope, of comfort, is not for a select few people, but
for all sinners, for you, for me.
We were gathered up by God, not to perform great feats of
faith, but to be cared for as God's precious flock. As we hear
Ezekiel, ``And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel,'' we
also hear King David, ``He makes me to lie down in green
pastures.''[1]
Even when we seem far from home, strangers in a strange
land, we have the comfort of God's promise of forgiveness and
life everlasting.
May our Lord grant us the peace of knowing His rich grace
and love. Amen.
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1. Psalm 23:2a (ESV)