17 "As for you, My flock , thus says the Lord GOD , 'Behold , I will judge between one sheep and another , between the rams and the male goats . 18 'Is it too slight a thing for you that you should feed in the good pasture , that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pastures ? Or that you should drink of the clear waters , that you must foul the rest with your feet ? 19 'As for My flock , they must eat what you tread down with your feet and drink what you foul with your feet !' " 20 Therefore , thus says the Lord GOD to them, "Behold , I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep . 21 "Because you push with side and with shoulder , and thrust at all the weak with your horns until e you have scattered them abroad , 22 therefore, I will deliver My flock , and they will no longer be a prey ; and I will judge between one sheep and another . 23 "Then I will set over them one shepherd , My servant David , and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd . 24 "And I, the Lord , will be their God , and My servant David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken . 25 "I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods . 26 "I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing . And I will cause showers to come down in their season ; they will be showers of blessing . 27 "Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its increase , and they will be secure on their land . Then they will know that I am the Lord , when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 "They will no longer be a prey to the nations , and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely , and no one will make them afraid . 29 "I will establish for them a renowned planting place , and they will not again be victims of famine in the land , and they will not endure the insults of the nations anymore . 30 "Then they will know that I, the Lord their God , am with them, and that they, the house of Israel , are My people ," declares the Lord GOD . 31 "As for you, My sheep , the sheep of My pasture , you are men , and I am your God ," declares the Lord GOD .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:17-31
Commentary on Ezekiel 34:17-31
(Read Ezekiel 34:17-31)
The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock, yet they were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish between them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, 23-31, prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Under Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant out of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness.