“‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day. I will bring them out from among the peoples and gather them from foreign countries; I will bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams and all the inhabited places of the land.
Ezekiel 34:11-13 NET
Ezekiel 34 opens with a declaration of judgment against shepherds feeding on the Lord’s sheep rather than feeding them (Ezek. 34:1-10). And it closed with a promise that the Lord would provide his sheep with a shepherd, David, who would care for the flock and meet their needs (Ezek. 34:23-31).
But in the middle of this chapter, God told his lost sheep that he would gather them from the nations, wherever they have been scattered. He would bring them to their own land and feed them on the rich grass of the mountains of Israel; they would lie down in lush pastures, and the sick and hurting among them would be cared for (Ezek. 34:11-16).
When this was written, Israel was in exile, scattered throughout the Babylonian empire. Their future looked bleak. But the words of this chapter would have offered them hope. They did have a future. Not as exiles, but in a land of plenty, their own land, and ruled by a new David who would care for all their needs.
Israel eventually returned from exile. However, they are still looking forward to the future described in this chapter. Their history has been filled with conflict, strife, and scattering. Will this promise ever be fulfilled?
Some continue to look forward to a literal and physical fulfillment of this promise, and others like it. But whether or not that ever happens, this promise has found fulfillment in Jesus, the promised heir of David.
Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:14:16). He is gathering his lost sheep scattered among the nations and bringing us into his kingdom to live under his rule and care. And someday, he will bring us into the land he has prepared for us—a land of peace and plenty.
