Shepherding God’s Pasture
Ezekiel 34:15-16
“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
Ezekiel 34:23-24
“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
God is the good shepherd. We know this by the popular King David in Psalm 23, specifically Psalm 23:1-2. But before David was king of Israel, he was a shepherd, a humble beginning just like Jesus.
In Ezekiel 34, God is rebuking the false Shepards who mislead the people of Israel and declaring that He is the Lord our God and the Good Shepard. Through the Holy One, the Good Shepherd, He anointed David to be the shepherd of his pasture, God’s people, just like Ezekiel the prophet, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, to be a mouthpiece of God. Throughout scripture, the people who were chosen to do this aren’t limited to one medium of sharing the gospel; it is all in our gifts, so get creative. How can we be like the Good Shepard Jesus, who came in flesh, born in a manger, shepherding God’s pasture, the flock of his people, seeking the lost? What can we learn from the attributes of God and the duties of a shepherd?
There is something gentle about shepherding and comforting to know that we are God’s sheep; we are always in Jesus’ care, and he will leave the 99 to find the one lost sheep, and out of every one of them, he knows and cares for. Even in our current situations, we are being shepherded through. So whoever it is on your mind, whether it’s yourself, a friend, a family member, or a stranger. Shepherd them like Jesus, bring them back to his care with care. Be creative, intentional, and loving. Why? Because as ambassadors of Christ, heirs of God’s kingdom, this is what we’re called to do, and through this humility of stewardship, our character is strengthened for our purpose for His glory. How? Read Scripture and pray daily, confide in Godly community, try new hobbies, and if you already know your talents, incorporate God in them and share with others, talk to others, and preach to yourself to have a sharp mind in Scripture and be able to answer questions for those who never knew Jesus as their Good Shepherd.
Let us pray,
Thank you, Jesus, that you are the Good Shepherd laying your life down for your sheep. Thank God that we are the flock of your pasture and we’re appointed to shepherd your people back to you. Thank you for your nurturing character and your continual goodness and mercy. Help us meditate on your word and tune our ears to your voice. Help us to know your voice and stay in your sight, and we pray against anything that’ll lead us astray from you. Sharpen our eyes to seek out the lost and soften our hearts to be gentle, understanding, and loving to them just as you are, and bring them back home. To the ones we never crossed paths with and our loved ones, God we pray, bring them back home to you, the Good Shepherd, our Lord and God, in Jesus’ name, amen.