Ezekiel 34:22

The Lord's search goes deeper than dealing only with certain leaders of the people: "Behold," says the Lord, "I judge between sheep and sheep," not merely between sheep and shepherds. "The rams and the male goats" seem to speak of objects of His judgment that are not alike. The rams belong to the flock themselves, but the male goats are foreign to it.

Next the Lord would judge between cattle and cattle (the margin of the Bible says, small cattle of lambs and kids); between rams and male goats (margin, great male goats). It was a question between the strong and the weak. What is the right use of strength but to protect the weak?

But Jehovah now says that He Himself would seek out His poor sheep. He would judge between sheep and sheep. He would deliver them from the mouth of those that devoured them, and feed them on the mountains of Israel, in fat pastures. He would raise up the true and only shepherd, David (that is, the well-beloved Messiah)... Notice how Jehovah Himself delivers His sheep, without calling Himself their shepherd. Then He raises up a plant of renown, the true David, as their shepherd.

There might be judgment on oppression, deliverance for the wretched, and blessing for the people restored to the land of Israel. But grace does not stop flowing at the levels men would set for it.

The prophetic reference to the true David is touching and beautiful. "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. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them." (Ezek. 34:23–24) Our Lord in John 10 presents Himself as the faithful and good Shepherd who loves and cares for His sheep.

In verses 13, 14 He spells this out in language so simple and plain that it is useless here, as in similar passages, to dodge His testimony. He will yet do this work for Israel on earth, when He has finished gathering His assembly for heaven. These words have never yet come true; so they must still come true. Their certainty and security rest on Himself, and on that mercy which endures forever.

The leaders failed, so God's people have been scattered. Once scattered, they have fallen prey to the enemy. United, they could have resisted the enemy's attacks. Scattered, they fall an easy prey to every evil.

Is there not a searching lesson in this for us all? Do we not tend to treat those we could class as "diseased" with coldness and severity? Do we not keep our distance from those we might class as weak and feeble?... What cruelty and injustice have been practised in the name of Christ, perhaps not willingly or on purpose, but often through mistaken ideas of faithfulness!