Bad Shepherds

The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. 

So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them. 

Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have been given over to pillage, and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast, for lack of a shepherd; because my shepherds did not look after my sheep, but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep; because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 

Thus says the Lord GOD: I swear I am coming against these shepherds. I will claim my sheep from them and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep so that they may no longer pasture themselves. I will save my sheep, that they may no longer be food for their mouths. For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. (Ezekiel 34:1=11)

Such a strong 2020 warning from Ezekiel about shepherds who slaughter and scatter their sheep – who lord over them!  These are the shepherds – leaders – who abandon their sheep, don’t seek the lost, or heal the injured, or sick.  They use the sheep and give nothing in return.  They treat them harshly and brutally.  They make us food – vulnerable – for every wild beast or nation seeking to wound or destroy us and our democracy.

Very fortunately, the Lord God searches for us, looks after us, and tends us.  This is our belief and hope. God wants us in green pastures, not in desolation, desperation, and despair.   God wants us to make life choices that bring us scattered to our senses and stop us from wandering.  Being given over to pillage must not be our fate.  We must choose wisely.

Deacon David Pierce