Sheep Don't Lead Sheep

In Ezekiel, chapter 34, God lays out a prophecy against the “Shepherds of Israel.” He’s not talking about those who are actual sheep herders, but the teachers and leaders of Israel; those who are called by him to lead and care for the people of the nation.

verse 2: “Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?

This is the accusation he brings among them:
“The weak you have not strengthened,
the sick you have not healed,
the injured you have not bound up,
the strayed you have not brought back,
the lost you have not sought,
and with force and harshness you have ruled them.”
(verse 4)

God then doesn’t give them a set of rules or instruction to correct their false behaviors. He steps forward and says, “No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves...I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declared the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.”
(verses 10, 15, 16)

This is a prophecy. It means that this is going to happen in the future. It’s not just a rebuke, it’s an event that’s going to take place and be fulfilled. God promises that he “will set up over (his people) 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. I am the LORD; I have spoken.”
(verses 23-24)

When Jesus walked the earth, he said that he was this servant; he was this one shepherd; he was this prince. In John chapter 10, verses 1-18, Jesus spells this out clearly. In verse 11 he specifically says, “I am the good shepherd.”
This prophecy in Ezekiel also has clear tones from Psalm 23. And Jesus himself said that he would seek the lost, bind up the injured and broken (Luke 19:10, Luke 4:18).

John chapter 10 has a famous verse that Christians love to quote: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Traditionally, we attribute that title of “thief” to Satan, but that’s not who Jesus is talking about. Jesus identifies leaders and teachers who do not shepherd the people faithfully as the ones who are thieves.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.” (verse 1)

“Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.’ (verses 7-8)

Jesus is clearly accusing the Pharisees and religious leaders of being thieves. John chapter 10 flows from a conversation he’s started with the Pharisees in chapter 9.

“Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, ‘Are we also blind?’ Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. Truly, truly I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.” (John 9:40-John 10:1)

There isn’t a break in his speech; he doesn’t change location. It’s clear, Jesus calls the Pharisees (and other oppressive teachers who came before them) thieves and robbers, because they do not shepherd the flock as God calls them. Just as God accused the leaders in Ezekiel’s day, Jesus accuses the Pharisees in his day of being wicked, greedy, neglecting justice and the love of God (Luke 11:37-52).

All of this reminds me today that even though I work at a church, preach on Sundays, lead Bible study groups, do counseling, officiate funerals, etc.,
I am not a leader, or teacher, or shepherd to be depended on or held in high esteem. Jesus is the one shepherd. Myself, and others who share the same calling as me, are sheep who have a certain responsibility among the rest of the sheep. There’s not a flock of sheep in the world that is led by one strong sheep or ram. Sheep flock to a shepherd, to someone who is not like them, beyond them in power and wisdom. The same is true for us, we need someone beyond us in power and wisdom to lead and shepherd us. There isn’t a single person in the world qualified to do that; unless a person could also be God, which is exactly who Jesus is.

Lord, please remind me of this always. May I see my life and calling accurately and humbly, so that I can focus on leading people to be led by you. In Jesus’ name.