Ezekiel 34:28, commentary and pictures

The chapter to which the promise belongs is a rebuke of unfaithful shepherds for failing to care for God's flock. The flock will no more be a prey to the heathen and no beast of the land will devour them, but they will dwell safely with none making them afraid, for God rescues and guards them from hostile nations and devouring powers. This safety is His covenant of peace with His flock, and it gives most precious encouragement.

Around this promise He makes His people and the places round about His hill a blessing, sending showers in their season as showers of blessing so that the tree of the field yields its fruit and the earth yields its increase, even as all nature obeys the bidding of Jehovah. They are safe in their land because He has broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them out of the hand of those who used them for themselves. He raises up for them a plant of renown so they are no more consumed with hunger nor bear the shame of the heathen, and thus they know that the Lord their God is with them and that they, the house of Israel, are His people, His flock of pasture who are men with Him as their God.

The one Shepherd and chief shepherd is Christ, who applies this shepherd prophecy to Himself. After the fall He saw His sheep doomed to perish in the dark ways of sin and left the honors and glories of His Father's house to save the wandering ones. His work is to seek, restore, heal, and strengthen the flock with diligence, care-taking, and tender compassion for helpless creatures entrusted to Him. His unwearied care continues as He calls them to His fold for shelter and refuge, strengthens the weak, relieves the suffering, gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in His bosom, and His sheep love Him and know His voice.

The most striking feature of this covenant is the exceeding richness of pardoning mercy to the sinner, bringing salvation through the tender mercies of God if he repents and turns from his sin, with perfect obedience as the condition of life under the new covenant and forgiveness secured by Christ's sacrifice for every repentant, believing sinner. It is truth of God and not a pleasing fable, to be read and studied with the utmost stretch of understanding because it has direct meaning for those living in the last days, calling them to make straight paths for their feet and to turn the lame out of the way. The chapter is to be read alongside Isaiah 58, which calls failed shepherds to return to loyalty and become repairers of broken paths through obedience to God's law and Sabbath.