David's Descendant Shepherds Us

Sermon on Ezekiel 34:11-16,23-24

Saint Mark's Watertown

Pastor Karl Walther

May 6, 2001

 

 

            Along with King David, we say: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.  Amen. 

            God's Word for our special consideration today is Ezekiel, chapter thirty-four, verses eleven through sixteen and twenty-three through twenty-four: 

            This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries.

            And I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.

            I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.  ...I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.

            This is the Word of the Lord. 

 

Introduction: Today Is Good Shepherd Sunday

 

            Dear fellow followers of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ:

            Today is Good Shepherd Sunday.  You probably know that every year, on the third Sunday after Easter, we celebrate that Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  In one form or another, we hear David's words: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.  Usually we hear Jesus' words: My sheep listen to my voice.  I know them; they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one can snatch them out of my hand. 

            What you might not know is that this picture -- that Jesus is our Good Shepherd -- comes up lots and lots of times in the Bible.  Psalm ninety-five calls us: the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.  Psalm one hundred calls us: his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Luke chapter fifteen has Jesus leaving ninety-nine sheep to find a single lost sheep.  John chapter twenty-one has Jesus reinstating Peter to feed his sheep and lambs.  Revelation chapter seven has Christ shepherding the multitudes eternally in heavenly glory. 

 

Theme: David's Descendant Shepherds Us

 

            And God's Word to us today, Ezekiel chapter thirty-four, also says that:
* DAVID'S DESCENDANT SHEPHERDS US.  In this word from God, we'll find that: (1) JESUS GATHERS US, (2) JESUS PASTURES US, and (3) JESUS RESCUES US. 

 

 

Background: The Lord's Relationship To Israel At Ezekiel's Time

 

            Now, for us to understand God's Word to us today, it's important that we learn some things about Ezekiel-- through whom God wrote this Word.  As Ezekiel wrote these words, it was pretty exactly the year five hundred eighty bc: six hundred some years before Jesus lived, died, and rose-- nearly twenty-six hundred years ago now.  Ezekiel was not in the land of Israel at this point; he was in Babylon, modern-day Iraq-- a thousand mile, couple-of-month trip to the east of Israel. 

            You see, at Ezekiel's time, God's Old Testament people were in exile.  Eight hundred years earlier, they had conquered the land of Canaan.  But they failed to follow the Lord's command to exterminate the people there.  So, the pagan people lived on to snare God's people by way of their perverted idolatry.  After seven hundred years of that, God kicked the ten northern tribes of Israel out of their land and into Assyria, never to be heard from again.  After eight hundred years of disobedience, God did the same to those living in the southern tribe of Judah-- among whom was Ezekiel. 

            So, Ezekiel is sitting in Babylon, exiled.  He and his people might have wondered, "What now?  Will we blend into the peoples and cease to exist as a people-- the way things happen with other nations?  If so, what becomes of all the promises God has made to us?"  Well, the answers to those questions come up in God's Word to us today. 

 

Part One: Jesus Gathers Us

 

            Ezekiel writes: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries. 

            The shepherd-picture here is obvious, isn't it?  You can just picture a flock of sheep.  The cloudy darkness of a severe thunderstorm comes upon them.  The thunder and lightning sends them scattering.  In the calm after the storm, their shepherd finds himself gathering them-- first those not scattered too far, then those caught in the brush a little bit farther away, and then those who had run and hidden on the lowest ground. 

            The Lord says to Israel: that's what he is going to do for them.  Their sin had brought the thunder and lightning of his holy anger.  They had scattered-- some to Assyria, some to Egypt, some to Babylon.  But God was going to gather them again.  Some forty-five years or so after Ezekiel wrote these words, the Lord began restoring his people to their land.  He gathered his flock, and it was a miracle of his love. 

            Of course, Christ has done the same thing for you and for me.... 

            You and I wandered, too.  Some of us sheep pursued a pathway of greed, and -- wandering around in the underbrush of all our possessions -- we lost sight of Christ.  Some of us sheep pursued a pathway of pleasure, and -- descending into the valleys of liquor, lust, illicit drugs, or illicit activities -- we lost sight of Christ.  Some of us sheep pursued a pathway of pride, and -- beyond the mountains of our smug satisfaction with ourselves -- we lost sight of Christ. 

            Then we experienced the thunder and lightning of God's anger over our transgressions.  Our portfolio lost its value.  Our fast lifestyle fast ruined our bodies and lives.  We found out we weren't as hot as we thought we were.  Worst of all, we all found out that we were as good as dead because of our sins. 

            But Christ, our Good Shepherd, pursued us.  Thorns ripped flesh from his brow, as he entered the underbrush to rescue us.  He suffered the valley of the shadow of hell and death, as he came down to save us.  His resurrection and exaltation trumped all those mountains of our sinful pride. 

            ...Wherever we had scattered, he gathered us all. 

 

Part Two: Jesus Pastures Us

 

            He gathered us, and he led us to a new pasture....

            Ezekiel delivers the Lord's message: I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 

            Once again: the shepherd-picture is a compelling one, isn't it?  After the storm, in the brilliant sunshine, after he has gathered his flock together again, what is the shepherd going to do?  He's going to lead the sheep to a place with luscious grass, where they can eat.  He's going to lead the sheep to a cool refreshing stream, where they can drink.  He's going to lead the sheep to a comfy place where they can lie down. 

            And that's what the Lord did for Israel.  The Lord led the people of Israel back to their own land.  They lay down, once again, among the mountains in the middle of the land.  They circled the Sea of Galilee with its fresh water to sustain them.  And they made pilgrimage to Jerusalem once again, where the Lord fed them with his Word. 

            Of course, Christ has done the same for you and for me.  After gathering us from our various and devious pathways, Jesus doesn't say, "Well, now you're on your own."  No, he pastures us-- he leads us, and feeds us, and waters us....

            He does that for us physically.  Which one of us, after all, is starving to death? -- No, even the poorest people in our congregation have food to eat.  Which one of us lacks for fresh water? -- Not a single one.  Is any of us needy for shelter or clothes? -- No, even those of us in the most humble circumstances (and they may not speak our language) still have clothing and shelter. 

            Christ cares for us physically.  But more importantly, Christ cares for us spiritually.  He leads and feeds and waters us.  Have you ever considered how lavishly he does so here?  A Bible in every home, and usually several -- or else cassette tapes of the Bible -- give you opportunity all the time to find guidance from God.  (And if you have no Bible, talk to me after the service; I'll get you one immediately.)  Worship services constantly, and Lord's Supper three hundred times a year, feed your soul sumptuously.  (And if you are not prepared yet to receive Lord's Supper here, join class this coming Thursday night at seven, downstairs in the Parish Center; we'll take care of that.)  Baptism, whenever and wherever you want it, applies the refreshing waters of the gospel message to your life.  (Just give us a call and mention it to us.)

            ...You see: Jesus pastures us with whatever we need. 

 

Part Three: Jesus Rescues Us

 

            He gathered us, he leads us into appropriate pastures, and Jesus rescues us from harm.....

            Ezekiel concludes by quoting the Lord: I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong (the headstrong ones, who refuse to listen and bully the others)-- the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.  ...I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken. 

            Again, there's this picture of the faithful shepherd.  Not only does he lead and feed and water all the flock, he spends extra special time with the weak sheep, aiming to strengthen them.  He spends extra special time with the hurt sheep, tending to their wounds. 

            And then there's this mention of David.  Now, that would have put a smile on the face of all of Ezekiel's listeners.  Instantly they would have recalled that when Israel was weak and hurt -- bullied by the Philistines, battled against by the Philistines -- David stepped in.  He slew Goliath.  He led the battle to get rid of the enemies.  Later, David became king and conquered territory enough to make Israel a world power. 

            And of course, that's what David's descendant -- Jesus Christ, his very great grandson -- did for us.  Every time we're weak: and tempted to return to our greed, our liquor, our lusts, our selfish concern for our own reputation-- every time we're weak, he says, "Remember: I slew Satan.  His forces are beaten.  Don't give in to the devil's power anymore."  And every time we're hurt: hurt by the meanness of others, hurt by our own disappointment in ourselves, hurt by some loss that sin has brought into this world-- every time we're hurt, Jesus says, "Come here.  I care.  I will bind you up.  I will heal you.  I'm your salve-- and Savior." 

            ...That's the way Jesus rescues us from every harm. 

 

Conclusion: Our Good Shepherd Removes Our Every Worry

 

            You see: David's descendant, Jesus Christ-- he shepherds us.  He gathers us, and pastures us, and rescues us.  All of this-- and more.  Jesus promises us that after shepherding us through the many perils of the pastures on this planet, he will lead us into the perfect pastures of paradise. 

            How comfortably, then, we rest-- cradled in our Good Shepherd's arms!  Amen. 

            Along with King David, we say: Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Amen.