Sermon by Pastor David Prince
Unfaithful Shepherds
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel… (Ezekiel 34:2)
Failed to Feed
Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! (Ezekiel 34:3)
… you do not feed the sheep. (Ezekiel 34:3)
… the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep,… (Ezekiel 34:8)
Failed to Lead
The weak you have not strengthened,… (Ezekiel 34:4)
… with force and harshness you have ruled them. (Ezekiel 34:4)
… since there was no shepherd … (Ezekiel 34:8)
Failed to Care
… the sick you have not healed, (Ezekiel 34:4)
… the injured you have not bound up, (Ezekiel 34:8)
… since there was no shepherd… (Ezekiel 34:8)
Failed to Gather
… the strayed you have not brought back, (Ezekiel 34:4)
… the lost you have not sought, (Ezekiel 34:4)
So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd … (Ezekiel 34:5)
… none to search or seek for them. (Ezekiel 34:6)
… my shepherds have not searched for my sheep,… (Ezekiel 34:8)
Failed to Protect
… they became food for all the wild beasts. (Ezekiel 34:5)
… my sheep have become a prey, (Ezekiel 34:8)
… my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, … (Ezekiel 34:8)
God’s Promised Reversal
I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. (Ezekiel 34:11)
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,… (Ezekiel 34:15)
I Will Feed
I will feed them … (Ezekiel 34:13, 14)
I Will Lead
I will destroy [the fat and the strong]. I will feed them in justice. (Ezekiel 34:16)
I will judge between sheep and sheep. (Ezekiel 34:22)
I Will Care
I will bind up the injured,… (Ezekiel 34:16)
I will strengthen the weak… (Ezekiel 34:16)
I Will Gather
I will seek out my sheep… (Ezekiel 34:12)
I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them… (Ezekiel 34:13)
I will seek the lost,… (Ezekiel 34:16)
I will bring back the strayed,… (Ezekiel 34:16)
I Will Protect
I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered… (Ezekiel 34:12)
I will rescue my flock… (Ezekiel 34:22)
David Without David? Merry Christmas!
23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
Ezekiel 34:23-24