Ezekiel 34-Aligning Service with the Lord’s Vision

Ezekiel 34-Aligning Service with the Lord’s Vision January 28, 2018

Whenever I’ve had a calling with any kind of stewardship responsibility (which is basically every calling in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), I read Ezekiel 34 to check my  “Calling Temperature” and check my alignment with the Lord’s will concerning my responsibility.

Ezekiel 34 reminds me what the Lord’s expectations are for shepherds in His kingdom. The warnings and promises apply to a visiting teacher the same as they do to a Primary teacher the same as they do to a Relief Society president. When we accept the opportunities and blessings of serving in the Lord’s service, we accept the accompanying responsibilities.

Ezekiel 34’s way-to-go, nice, happy verses are great to read, but for a real soul searching accountability session, I read and ponder Ezekiel 34:8-22.

God’s Feedback For His Shepherds in Ezekiel 34

As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;

Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.

Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?

And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.

Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;

Therefore will I save my flock…

My Personal Assessment

Gaps in my alignment to God’s vision usually surface as I carefully consider the Lord’s rebukes.  Is the flock scattered? Have I muddied the drinking water with inconsiderate feet?  Have I sacrificed portions of the flock for my pride and ego?

I love this chapter and I’m so grateful for it.

The Lord is the One to save His flock.  I cannot save the flock, but I can aid Him until the flock securely dwells with Him again.

Even with all of the complications, inconveniences, and sacrifices inherent with being a willing shepherd, willing servants want the Lord’s covenant approbation:

Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they…are my people…and am your God.


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