The Good Shepherd - Part 5
Ezekiel 34:16
04/19/2024
16 ``I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the
strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I
will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the
strong I will destroy. I will feed them in
justice.'' (ESV)
God, speaking through Ezekiel, promises to seek and save the
lost. He also promises to judge the wicked, those sheep who
bully and harm the others in the flock.
``I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the
strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will
strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will
destroy. I will feed them in justice.''
Jesus was once asked, ``What is the greatest commandment?''
He answered, ``You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart... and your neighbor as yourself.''[1] The lost sheep,
rescued by the Good Shepherd, were incapable of joining the
flock. They were lost, injured, weak, and helpless. As sheep of
God's pasture, we were called from the darkness of sin to the
glory of His presence, not by our works, but because we heard of
His love, were joined to Him through baptism, and enjoy the
blessings of being in His presence.
As members of the flock of God, we are privileged to reflect
His love by serving one another, by seeking the good of our
neighbor. Our good works flow from the grace of our Good
Shepherd.
A portion of God's beloved flock gathers at Trinity Lutheran
Church on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. There we are fed by God's Word,
blessed with the forgiveness of our sins, and comforted by the
good news of Jesus Christ. The Good Shepherd invites you to join
Him for your eternal blessing. Amen.
____________________
1. Drawn from Matthew 22:37-40Category: Turn Your Radio On 2024
Daily Moments of Meditation devotions as heard each weekday on KJOE FM 106.1 in Slayton.
The Good Shepherd — Part 4: April 18, 2024
The Good Shepherd - Part 4
Ezekiel 34:15
04/18/2024
15 ``I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I
myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord
GOD.'' (ESV)
Ezekiel, as inspired and instructed by God, told the exiled
children of Israel about God's rich love and mercy. He spoke of
the restoration of Jerusalem, the return to Israel. This is the
work of God, not of the corrupt, ineffective rulers and leaders
of the people.
God told Ezekiel to say: ``I myself will be the shepherd of
my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord
GOD.''
Part of the heritage of the exiles were the songs of David,
which they knew by heart. Ezekiel's words echoed the description
of the Shepherd of the Twenty-Third Psalm. Even today, many
people who know nothing of God's rich grace and mercy, of His
desire that we should not perish but have everlasting life, know
the words of David. ``The LORD is my Shepherd,'' is used at
countless funerals to bring the hope of the resurrection.
God calls us to Himself through the proclaimed Word, the
Gospel of reconciliation. He shows us His love by sending Jesus,
His Son, to pay the price of our sins, a price that we are
absolutely unable to pay. His message is not of our works to
appease an angry God, but a message of pleading to allow Him to
care for us.
What does God call the sheep to do? To lie in green
pastures, to feed upon the very body and blood of the sacrificed
Son of God, to bathe in the waters of baptism. We are privileged
to reflect the love which we receive. God seeks the lost sheep.
The one who is tangled in the briers, who has cuts and bruises,
who cannot care for himself, that is the sheep that God rescues.
He rescues sinners who are in despair, and gives them comfort and
hope. May our Lord grant that we recognize, know, and trust in
the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Amen.The Good Shepherd — Part 3: April 17, 2024
The Good Shepherd - Part 3
Ezekiel 34:14
04/17/2024
14 ``I will feed them with good pasture, and on the
mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing
land. There they shall lie down in good grazing
land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the
mountains of Israel.'' (ESV)
Ezekiel, as given the message from God, proclaimed hope and
comfort for the children of Israel who were exiled in Babylon.
They had been failed by both the rulers and the religious
leaders. They had been enticed from the truth of God's love to
the worship of worthless idols. They were given religious
burdens rather than the peace of God.
Now they were longing for the day they could return to
Jerusalem. God's promise was not only about the restoration of
Judah, but of His Son being the Good Shepherd of the flock, the
people of God.
``I will feed them with good pasture, and on the
mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land.
There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on
rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of
Israel.''
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the
redemption of His flock. While Ezekiel's words remind us of the
Twenty-Third Psalm, they also are a reminder of Jesus' words.
``Take and eat, this is My body given for you for the forgiveness
of your sins. Take and drink, this is My blood, shed for you.''
Why does our Lord and Savior bestow upon us the forgiveness
of our sins and the promise of everlasting life? Is it because
we are particularly good sheep? No, it is because of His love,
His grace, and His mercy.
This promise is for you. God has said that He longs for us
to return to Him, to trust in Him, and to receive His love. May
our Lord richly bless you with the comfort that He is our
Shepherd who cares for us. Amen.The Good Shepherd — Part 2: April 16, 2024
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.
____________________
1. Psalm 23:2a (ESV)
The Good Shepherd — Part 1: April 15, 2024
The Good Shepherd - Part 1
Ezekiel 34:11-12
04/15/2024
11 ``For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself
will search for my sheep and will seek them out.
12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among
his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek
out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all
places where they have been scattered on a day of
clouds and thick darkness.'' (ESV)
The story of ancient Israel was one of political and
religious corruption. After the death of Solomon, the kingdom
split because of inept leadership. The kings looked to foreign
gods, ignoring the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Eventually,
God caused the children of Israel to be exiled in Babylon for
seventy years.
During the Babylonian captivity, the prophet Ezekiel
proclaimed the truth of God to the exiles. He brought them hope,
for he brought them God's Word which proclaimed a restoration.
More so, the message proclaimed by God through Ezekiel looked to
Jesus Christ.
This last Sunday, in the liturgical congregations which use
the historic series of readings, was ``Good Shepherd Sunday.''
The Old Testament reading was from Ezekiel.
``For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will
search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a
shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep
that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep,
and I will rescue them from all places where they have
been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.''
Throughout the history of the Church, from the earliest days
recorded in the Old Testament, people have turned their backs on
God. They ignored the men God appointed to proclaim His grace,
love, and mercy. In turn, these priests and scribes did not
uphold the Word of God, but allowed and encouraged the people to
worship false gods, to worship in ways and places not according
to God's Word. God, Himself, would have to correct the
situation. The Good Shepherd, the very Son of God, lived, died,
and rose again to seek and save the lost. May our Lord grant us
faith to hold firmly to the Good Shepherd and His gracious gifts.
Amen.Dry Bones — Part 5: April 12, 2024
Dry Bones - Part 5
Ezekiel 37:11-14
04/12/2024
11 Then he said to me, ``Son of man, these bones are
the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, `Our
bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are
clean cut off.'
12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the
Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and
raise you from your graves, O my people. And I
will bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open
your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my
people.
14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall
live, and I will place you in your own land. Then
you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken,
and I will do it, declares the LORD. (ESV)
Ezekiel, a prophet who lived and worked while the children
of Israel were exiled in Babylon, received a vision of a valley
of dry bones. God told him to proclaim the word of promise, the
word of life to the bones. The bones came to life. The
resurrected multitude was given the assurance of the restoration
of Israel.
Then he said to me, ``Son of man, these bones are the
whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, `Our bones
are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut
off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says
the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise
you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you
into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am
the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from
your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit
within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in
your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD;
I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.
This prophecy, this revelation that God can indeed raise the
dead, goes well beyond Israel's future. Israel would indeed be
revived and receive the restoration of an earthly kingdom.
But a revived Israel is but the dry bones from which God
will call Spirit-filled people from all nations to Himself.
Those who are dead in the trespass of sin receive a new life in
Christ Jesus because of His death and resurrection.
Do you wish to learn more? Join us at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday
at Trinity Lutheran Church. You will hear of God's rich grace,
love, and mercy which restores you to the hope of everlasting
life. Amen.Dry Bones — Part 4: April 11, 2024
Dry Bones - Part 4
Ezekiel 37:11-14
04/11/2024
11 Then he said to me, ``Son of man, these bones are
the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, `Our
bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are
clean cut off.'
12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the
Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and
raise you from your graves, O my people. And I
will bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open
your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my
people.
14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall
live, and I will place you in your own land. Then
you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken,
and I will do it, declares the LORD. (ESV)
Ezekiel, a prophet who lived and worked while the children
of Israel were exiled in Babylon, received a vision of a valley
of dry bones. God told him to proclaim the word of promise, the
word of life to the bones. The bones came to life.
Then he said to me, ``Son of man, these bones are the
whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, `Our bones
are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut
off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says
the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise
you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you
into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am
the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from
your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit
within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in
your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD;
I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.
God explained the vision to Ezekiel, the vision of hope
which Ezekiel would bring to the children of Israel. Although
they were exiled, God promised to restore them to the land of
Judah. They would again dwell where their forefathers dwelt.
God would restore their faith in His promises.
Today, when more and more people reject the good news of
salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ, when the
church is openly attacked by leaders and citizens alike, we have
hope. The Word of the Lord endures forever. We have the promise
of eternal life.
May our Lord grant us faith in Him that we trust His promise
of life because He has given to us the reality of the forgiveness
of our sins. Amen.Dry Bones — Part 3: April 10, 2024
Dry Bones - Part 3
Ezekiel 37:7-10
04/10/2024
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I
prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a
rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its
bone.
8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on
them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had
covered them. But there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, ``Prophesy to the breath;
prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus
says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O
breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may
live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath
came into them, and they lived and stood on their
feet, an exceedingly great army. (ESV)
Ezekiel, a prophet who lived and worked while the children
of Israel were exiled in Babylon, received a vision of a valley
of dry bones. God told him to proclaim the word of promise, the
word of life to the bones.
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I
prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling,
and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I
looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and
flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them.
But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me,
``Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say
to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the
four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that
they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and
the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on
their feet, an exceedingly great army.
At times, it seems, we proclaim the Gospel, the good news of
God's rich grace and mercy as found in Jesus Christ, to deaf and
dead ears. The word that is translated here as ``breath'' may
also be translated as ``spirit.'' Thus, when Ezekiel proclaimed
God's Word to the breath, to the spirit, the dead came back to
life.
In Genesis we read that God breathed into the dead clay, and
that clay became a living soul, Adam. God breathes into
spiritually dead people, they become spiritually alive, having
the gift of faith which holds to God's promise of forgiveness.
May our Lord grant us His Holy Spirit to bring us to life,
to bring us to faith in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer. Amen.Dry Bones — Part 2: April 9, 2024
Dry Bones - Part 2
Ezekiel 37:3-6
04/09/2024
3 And he said to me, ``Son of man, can these bones
live?'' And I answered, ``O Lord GOD, you know.''
4 Then he said to me, ``Prophesy over these bones,
and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the
LORD.
5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I
will cause breath to enter you, and you shall
live.
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause
flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin,
and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you
shall know that I am the LORD. (ESV)
Ezekiel, a prophet who lived and worked while the children
of Israel were exiled in Babylon, received a vision of a valley
of dry bones.
And [the Lord GOD] said to me, ``Son of man, can these
bones live?'' And I answered, ``O Lord GOD, you know.''
Then he said to me, ``Prophesy over these bones, and
say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will
cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I
will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come
upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in
you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am
the LORD.
Without the working of the Holy Spirit, all people are
spiritually dead, spiritually dry bones lying bleached in the
sun. Faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ, comes from God as He
causes His Word to be proclaimed over the lifeless bones.
As God sends His prophets, His pastors, out into the world,
He gives the promise that the dry bones will live. Certainly
Ezekiel is speaking of the restoration of the people to
Jerusalem, and the restoration of their faith. He is also
talking about the Church throughout all the ages. God gives His
promise that the dead in faith will be resurrected spiritually,
even as the resurrection of Jesus proves we will be resurrected
physically.
In the days where we despair that our Lord seems far away,
may He comfort us with His promise of faith and eternal life.
Amen.Dry Bones — Part 1: April 8, 2024
Dry Bones - Part 1
Ezekiel 37:1-2
04/08/2024
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought
me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down
in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there
were very many on the surface of the valley, and
behold, they were very dry. (ESV)
Easter gives us the hope of both a physical resurrection as
well as eternal life because of Jesus and His sacrifice on the
cross. His empty tomb foreshadows our empty tomb. Easter also
speaks of our spiritual resurrection, being raised from spiritual
death to a new life in Christ Jesus through the proclaimed Gospel
and baptism.
The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed God's Word to the children of
Israel during their seventy-year exile in Babylon, about six
hundred years before the birth of Jesus. The children of Israel
had no hope because they had been removed from the land long
promised to Abraham and his descendants.
Ezekiel had a vision.
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out
in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle
of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me
around among them, and behold, there were very many on
the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very
dry.
This vision is about the house of Israel, as they would be
restored to Jerusalem. More importantly, it is a vision of the
spiritual house of Israel, the Church, which seemed lost in false
teachings.
This week we will look at Ezekiel and the dry bones, how
they hear the Word of the Lord and are restored.
May our Lord grant us renewed and strengthened faith in
Jesus Christ as our resurrected Savior. Amen.