The Good Shepherd Will

Read Ezekiel 33:21 - Ezekiel 36
 
Ezekiel 34:11-16 “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. 12 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!...22 So I will rescue my flock, and they will no longer be abused. I will judge between one animal of the flock and another. 23 And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among my people. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
 
PERHAPS no image of Jesus is more comforting to us than that of the Good Shepherd. How wonderful, assuring, loving and restoring are Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” And we certainly know the great comforting word of Psalms 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
   Ezekiel 34 is another place where God proclaims he is the Good Shepherd to his faithful people. Fourteen times the LORD says, “I will.” Indeed, it is his will to establish and affirm his eternal promise summarized with, “And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them.” Remember this is spoken about 300 years after David lived. The reference is clearly to the Son of David - Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, to come and lead us to heaven.
   Here, too, we note God’s judgment upon the unfaithful and his promise to care for his own. With our lips and heart we should read these words and proclaim, “Wow! Unbelievable! Amazing!” The Scripture stirs the faithful heart to gratitude of God’s eternal comfort. His Word humbles our spirit to consider the Good Shepherd would lead us to the place of rest and plenty. We should be constantly overwhelmed at the expressed reality of God’s amazing will spoken from his mouth to us his creation.
   As the Good Shepherd wills you to salvation, what will you do?