Being called to shepherd God’s flock is an awesome responsibility. Listen to what God expects of those who shepherd his flock as found in God’s prophecy against the shepherds of Israel in Ezekiel 34.
They should take care of the flock, strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bandage the injured, reach out and rescue those who have strayed or been lost. If you are a shepherd your leadership over your flock should be that of a servant leader. That’s quite a job description, isn’t it?
If God’s shepherds don’t carry out their responsibilities faithfully the flock will scatter and be prey to the attack of their enemies.
When you read the rest of this chapter it becomes clear that God doesn’t forsake His flock if His shepherds are unfaithful. He deals firmly with His shepherds and holds them accountable. But He promises to do for His flock what He had assigned to His shepherds. He will be a loving, faithful shepherd to them.
It is in this portion where you have those well know words that have been put to song: “I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.” The promise concludes with this promise: “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 Sovereign Lord. You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Pray for your shepherd, your pastor. Praise God for His promise to care for you even if your shepherd doesn’t. Seek to be a faithful follower of the Lord as one of His flock.
