Ezekiel 34:4

The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. THE DISEASED HAVE YE NOT STRENGTHENED - rather, those weak from the effects of 'disease,' as strengthened" (i:e., with due nourishment) requires (Grotius). NEITHER HAVE YE BOUND UP THAT WHICH WAS BROKEN - i:e., the fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf. NEITHER HAVE YE BROUGHT AGAIN THAT WHICH WAS DRIVEN AWAY. If anyone be bound to "bring again an enemy's ox or ass" that "is going astray" (), much more is the shepherd bound to bring back again a straying sheep of the Lord's f...

1-6 The people became as sheep without a shepherd, were given up as a prey to their enemies, and the land was utterly desolated. No rank or office can exempt from the reproofs of God's word, men who neglect their duty, and abuse the trust reposed in them....

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 acquainted with the _disease of sin_ in all its _varieties_, and the _remedy_ for this disease, and the proper mode of administering it, in those various cases? He who does not know Jesus Christ as his _own Saviour_, never can recommend him to others. He who is not saved, will not save. _NEITHER HAVE YE HEALED THAT WHICH WAS SICK_] The prophet first speaks of the _general disease_; next, of the different kinds of spiritual infirmity. _NEITHER HAVE YE BOUND UP_ that which was _broken_] If

EXPOSITION EZEKIEL 34:1 AND THE WORD OF THE LORD, etc. As no date is given, we may infer that what follows came as an almost immediate sequel to that which precedes it. The kernel of the chapter is found in the Messianic prophecies of Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 34:24, as the first stage in the restoration of Israel which is beginning to open to the prophet's gaze. We can hardly avoid seeing in it the deliberate expression of words that had been spoken by Ezekiel's master (Jeremiah 23:1), and which in his case also were followed by a directly Messianic announcement. In...

THE DISEASED HAVE YE NOT STRENGTHENED,.... Such, in the civil polity, who were poor, and in necessitous circumstances, were not relieved; such who were injured and oppressed by others were not vindicated; and such as were forced to flee to other countries, or were carried captive, no care was taken, or methods used, to ransom them, and, bring them back; all which may be meant by this and the following metaphors, taken from the evil things that befall a flock of sheep: and such who were weak through spiritual diseases, their prophets and teachers took no care to cure them of their diseases, and to strengthen these feeble minded ones with divine cordials and spiritual food, and confirm them in the faith: NEITHER HAVE YE HEALED THAT WHICH WAS SICK; by directing them to the great Physician of souls, and to his precious blood for healing and pardon of sin: NEITHER HAVE YE BOUND UP THAT WHIC...

Ezekiel 34:1. The shepherds of Israel were the kings and princes and all who had authority over them. The prophet Jeremiah had received a similar message Jeremiah 23:1. These shepherds of Israel were responsible for the deplorable condition of the flock. Utterly selfish, they cared not for the sheep of His pasture; they feared not God nor did they have a heart for God's people. The flock was scattered and spoiled. Such was the sad condition of the people Israel. And when the Lord Jesus appeared in their midst to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel, He found them as sheep without a shepherd, and He had compassion upon them Mark 6:34. But they rejected Him and the Shepherd was smitten. Zechariah's prophecy was fulfilled

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. But besides moral excellence on the part of its citizens (Ezekiel 33) a state needs good government. This chapter is a very severe indictment of the rulers or kings of Israel in the past, who are compared to shepherds and the figure is maintained throughout the chapter that have neglected or abused the flock. Governors should govern in the interests of the governed; but those shepherds had used their power to feed themselves and not the flock they are even compared in Ezekiel 34:10 to ravenous beasts (notice mouth). It was this misgovernment that in part accounted for the miseries, the defeats, the exile of Israel....

NEITHER. Note the Figure of speech _Paradiastole_ (App-6), emphasising the five counts. ORUELTY. rigour. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 1:13; Exodus 1:14.Leviticus 25:46; Leviticus 25:53, its only other occurrences)....

Five classes are here mentioned, in Ezekiel 34:16 only four, the "diseased" being wanting, and "strengthen" used here of the diseased is said there of the sick. The "broken" is the hurt or bruised; the "lost" that which has wandered away of itself, in distinction from that "driven away" by violence....

DRIVEN AWAY— _Gone astray:_ and so Ezekiel 34:16....