Sunday School Corner

A New Shepherd
March 8, 2009


Background Scripture: Ezekiel 34
Lesson Passage: Ezekiel 34:23 – 31

Today’s lesson continues our study in the book of Ezekiel. This study progresses as God effects a total spiritual renewal of his people. Our last lesson focused on the individual’s need for a new spirit that subsequently would generate a new attitude and lead to works of righteousness. At this point in Ezekiel’s prophecy the change had not taken place but it was indeed the first change that would need to happen. This would come about as Israel returned to God in truth and sincerity and allowed him to give them a new heart. After this change of heart, God promised them new leadership. Many of the errors that caused Israel to go astray were directly attributed to the spiritual leadership of her kings. God established Israel as a theocracy or God-centered and directed government. Israel’s religious laws were the basis for all of her statutes and ordinances. Put another way, her civil laws were to be governed by those religious laws. Israel rejected this form of government because she wanted to be governed like the neighboring countries surrounding her. Israel demanded a king just as the other countries had kings. Samuel, Israel’s spiritual leader at the time, resisted the desire of the people but God instructed him to give his consent because their rejection was not of Samuel, God’s leader for them, but they were in fact rejecting God’s governance over their lives. This change from a theocracy to a monarchy form of government started a downward spiral that saw an increasing distance between the civil and the religious. Israel’s fate was in the hands of her kings just as Samuel prophesied it would be. As the king’s spirituality went, so too went Israel’s spirituality. Some kings were good kings but most of them were not. The good kings followed God’s leadership and depended on God but the bad kings did as they pleased and refused to listen to those God sent to warn them of impending danger. It was this downward spiritual cycle that led to Israel’s exile in Babylon. The people followed their leaders and their hearts became hardened just like their leaders. God remained true to the covenant he had with Abraham and because of it, he would restore Israel. In addition to promising the people a new spirit, God also promised them new leadership. God would give them a leader that would not lead them astray or away from him.

God instructed Ezekiel to warn the shepherds that he was against them. They had taken advantage of the sheep (God’s people) and had abused them to their own gain. This led to the scattering of Israel among the nations. God promised to gather them from among the nations where they were driven and bind up those that were bruised. Furthermore, God would honor his covenant with David by placing David’s descendant over God’s people as their shepherd. This relationship would not last for a generation but it would be eternal. God ended this portion of prophecy with a statement of clarity. The sheep of God’s flock are men and the shepherd is God.

Robert C. Hudson
February 26, 2009