For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 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 watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. 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, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. (Ezekiel 34: 11-16)
The idea of shepherding, and in specific the idea of God acting as the shepherd of his people, is an image found throughout the Bible, from beginning to end. In Gen. 48:24, as Jacob, on his deathbed summarized his life, he declared that God had been his "shepherd all of his life to this day." In Rev. 7:17, when the saints who come out of the tribulation are brought before God, John brings together two of the most striking images of the scripture by stating, "for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eye."
Shepherding was, and still is to a certain extent, a very common occupation for those in the Middle East. The Patriarchs were all shepherds, as was Moses and David. The terrain and geography of the area lend itself to the raising of both sheep and goats, but in particular sheep. Sheep are moved from one area to another with relative ease and require less water than other domestic animals. Everyone was familiar with shepherding --- to say the people to whom the scriptures were first written had a working knowledge of the concept would indeed be an understatement.
Sheep are interesting animals. Interesting in that they need an incredible amount of care and direction. They can never be left alone, and often stray, requiring the shepherd to find and rescue them. The needs of sheep, compared to the needs of other animals, are greater because of their instinct to be afraid and when faced with a fearful situation, to run. Without a shepherd to care for the sheep, they will not last long.
It is good to note that the Bible uses the imagery of God as the Good Shepard at least in part because the people of God are so inclined to act like sheep!
The prophet Ezekiel extensively rebukes the shepherd-leaders of Israel for their caring so little for the well-being of the flock entrusted to them and their terrible failure to lead the people as God would have them.
Then Ezekiel turns the spotlight on God and all that this Shepherding God will do for the people of Israel. It is God who will provide the unmistakable ray of hope. God says, "I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out." Ezekiel then goes on in beautiful imagery to paint the picture of the Good Shepherd searching for and restoring the lost and scattered sheep. God will be the one who searches for God's sheep, seeks them out, rescues them, feeds them, heals them, and leads them to good and rich pasture. It is God who will return them to the land and feed them on the mountain heights. It is God who will bind up the broken, strengthen the sick, and birth justice among the people.
It is God who makes it so.
For Reflection:
Slowly re-read the Ezekiel passage taking the time to underline all the actions of God.
What do you think motivates God to act in such ways?
How has God shepherded you?
What does your heart most need from your Shepherding God? Consider bringing that need directly to God in spoken or written words, in a gesture or artistic expression.
