7 Therefore , you shepherds , hear the word of the Lord : 8 "As I live ," declares the Lord GOD , "surely e because My flock has become a prey , My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd , and My shepherds did not search for My flock , but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock ; 9 therefore , you shepherds , hear the word of the Lord : 10 'Thus says the Lord GOD , "Behold , I am against the shepherds , and I will demand My sheep from them and make them cease from feeding sheep . So the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore , but I will deliver My flock from their mouth , so that they will not be food for them.""' 11 For thus says the Lord GOD , "Behold , I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 " As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep , so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day . 13 "I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land ; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel , by the streams , and in all the inhabited places of the land . 14 "I will feed them in a good pasture , and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel . There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel . 15 "I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest ," declares the Lord GOD . 16 "I will seek the lost , bring back the scattered , bind up the broken and strengthen the sick ; but the fat and the strong I will destroy . I will feed them with judgment .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7-16
Commentary on Ezekiel 34:7-16
(Read Ezekiel 34:7-16)
The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd's tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to rest on his love and faithfulness. The proud and self-sufficient, are enemies of the true gospel and of believers; against such we must guard. He has rest for disquieted saints, and terror for presumptuous sinners.