CHAPTER XXXIV _The prophet is commanded to declare the dreadful judgments of_ _God against the covetous shepherds of Israel, who feed_ _themselves, and not their flocks; by which emblem the priests_ _and Levites are intended, who in Ezekiel's time were very_ _corrupt, and the chief cause of Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:2. _PROPHESY AGAINST THE SHEPHERDS OF ISRAEL_] The _shepherds_ include, first, the _priests_ and _Levites_; secondly, the _kings,_ _princes_, and _magistrates_. The _flock_ means the whole of the _people_. The _fat_ and the _wool_, the _tithes_ and _offerings_, the _taxes_ and _imp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:3. _YE EAT THE FAT_] I think החלב _hacheleb_ should be translated _the milk_; and so most of the Versions understand it. Or they lived on the _fat sheep_, and took the _wool_ of all. "The _priests_," says _Calmet_, "ate the tithes, the first-fruits, and the offerings of the people;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:4. _THE DISEASED HAVE YE NOT STRENGTHENED_] No person is fit for the office of a shepherd, who does not _well understand_ the _diseases_ to which sheep are incident, and the _mode of cure_. And is any man fit for the _pastoral office_, or to be a shepherd of souls, who is not well a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:5. _AND THEY WERE SCATTERED_] There was no discipline kept up; and the flock, the Church, became disorganized, and separated from each other, both in affection and fellowship. And the consequence was, the grievous wolves, false and worldly interested teachers, seized on and made a p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:6. _MY SHEEP WANDERED THROUGH ALL THE MOUNTAINS_] They all became idolaters, and lost the knowledge of the true God. And could it be otherwise while they had such pastors? "Himself a wanderer from the narrow way; His silly sheep, no wonder that they stray!" Reader, if thou be a _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:7. _THEREFORE, YE SHEPHERDS_, (ye _bad_ and _wicked shepherds_,) _HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD_] In the preceding character of the _good_ _shepherd_ the reader will find, by reversing the particulars, the character of a _bad shepherd_; and therefore I may be excused from entering into... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:10. _I WILL - CAUSE THEM TO CEASE FROM FEEDING THE FLOCK_] God, in this country, _unpriested_ a whole hierarchy who fed not the flock, but _ruled them with force and cruelty_; and he raised up a new set of shepherds better qualified, both by sound doctrine and learning, to feed the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:12. _CLOUDY AND DARK DAY._] Times of general distress and persecution; in such times the shepherd should be especially watchful.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:13. _I WILL - FEED THEM UPON THE MOUNTAINS_] When I bring back the people from their captivity, I will raise up to them a holy and diligent priesthood, who shall in all places give them sound instruction. But this, and some of the following promises, belong to the _Christian Church_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:16. _I WILL DESTROY THE FAT AND THE STRONG_] I will destroy those cruel and imperious shepherds who abuse their authority, and tyrannize over the flock.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:17. _AND_ AS FOR _YOU, O MY FLOCK_] After having spoken to the _shepherds_, he now addresses the _flock_. _I JUDGE BETWEEN CATTLE AND CATTLE_] Between _false_ and _true_ professors; between them that have only the _form_ and them that have the _power_ of godliness; between the _bac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:18. _HAVE EATEN UP THE GOOD PASTURE_] Arrogate to yourselves all the promises of God, and will hardly permit the simple believer to claim or possess any token of God's favour. _YE MUST FOUL THE RESIDUE WITH YOUR FEET?_] Ye abuse God's mercies; you _consume much_ upon yourselves, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:20. _I WILL JUDGE BETWEEN THE FAT CATTLE AND BETWEEN THE_ _LEAN CATTLE._] Between the _rich_ and the _poor_; those who _fare_ _sumptuously_ every day and those who have not the _necessaries of_ _life_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:23. _I WILL SET UP ONE SHEPHERD - MY SERVANT DAVID_] DAVID, king of Israel, had been dead upwards of _four hundred years_; and from that time till now there never was a ruler of any kind, either in the Jewish _Church_ or _state_, of the name of _David_. This, then, must be some _typ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:24. _I THE LORD WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND MY SERVANT DAVID A_ _PRINCE_] Here we find God and his Christ are _all in all_ in his Church, and Jesus is still PRINCE _among them_; and to him the _call_ and _qualifications_ of all genuine pastors belong, and _from_ him they must be derived.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:25. _I WILL MAKE WITH THEM A COVENANT OF PEACE_] The original is emphatic: וכרתי להם ברית שלום _vecharatti lahem berith shalom_, "And I will cut with them the peace covenant;" that is, a _covenant sacrifice_, procuring and establishing peace between God and man, and between man and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:26. _THE SHOWER TO COME DOWN_] The Holy Spirit's influence. _THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING._] Light, life, joy, peace, and power shall be manifest in all the _assemblies of Christ's_ _people_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:29. _I WILL RAISE UP - A PLANT OF RENOWN_] מטע לשם _matta_ _leshem_, "a plantation to the name;" to the name of CHRIST. A _Christian Church_ composed of men who are _Christians_, who have the spirit of _Christ_ in them, and do not bear his _name_ in vain. I believe the words might... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 34:31. _AND YE MY FLOCK_] That is, under the allegory of a _flock_ of _sheep_, I point out _men_; under that of a _pasture_, my _Church_, and under that of a _shepherd_, the _Messiah_, through whom I am become _your God_. And he who is your God is אדני יהוה _Adonai_ _Jehovah_, the self... [ Continue Reading ]