Thoughts for the Day

The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them—to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?....

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.

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.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today's passage is taken from Ezekiel. The writer, a priest in Jerusalem, was one of the second wave of captives taken to Babylon in 597 BCE. Once there he began to prophesy. He uses the word 'shepherd' and 'sheep' when talking of Israel's leaders and their people. At this time the word 'shepherd' often refers to a prince or king or to the spiritual leader of the nation. We see how Joshua is a shepherd to his people, and King David is called to be a shepherd (see 2 Samuel 5.1-3), of the nation.

Ezekiel attacks those who have not cared for God's people, but who have feathered their own nests and generally failed His people. They have not fed His people, or cared for the weak and sick. Instead they have treated them cruelly with no compassion. Ezekiel declares that God will hold them to account in due course.

This passage foreshadows the parable in Luke's Gospel (Luke 15.1-7) of the good shepherd who searches out the lost sheep. It was also led to the expectation that the Messiah would be the ultimate Good Shepherd who would lay down his life for the sheep, that is, for God's people.

Good Lord,
Shepherd of us, Your sheep,
we thank You for Your loving care,
and ask for help to keep our promises made to You.
We pray for our spiritual and national leaders
asking that they may be faithful to their call
to nurture and care for the people of the nation,
and for Your help in playing our part to support them.
Amen.