Ezekiel 34:23
Chuck Smith's sermon on Ezekiel 34:23 explores the contrasts between good and bad shepherds, emphasizing God's promise of care for His people.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the biblical analogy of God as the Good Shepherd, contrasting Him with bad shepherds who exploit and neglect their flock. He highlights the responsibilities of true spiritual leaders to care for, heal, and seek out the lost sheep, as prophesied in Ezekiel 34. Smith points out that while false shepherds scatter the flock, the Good Shepherd, represented by Jesus, gathers and restores them, fulfilling God's promise of a righteous leader. The sermon also reflects on the historical context of Israel's scattering and the hope of their regathering under the Good Shepherd. Ultimately, Smith reassures the church that they already know and follow this Shepherd who laid down His life for them.
Text
"THE GOOD SHEPHERD"
I. ANALOGIES OF THE SHEPHERD WITH THE FLOCK ARE COMMON IN THE BIBLE.
A. David made many allusions to the people as the flock of God.
1. Psalm 23 has become a classic.
2. Psalm 100 another classic: "Make a joyful noise unto
the Lord all ye lands....We are His people and the
sheep of His pasture..." (Jeremiah 23..
B. Here in this 34th chapter of Ezekiel.
C. Zechariah 11 - the reference to the antichrist as the false
shepherd.
D. John 10 - Jesus declared, "I am the good Shepherd, the good
Shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
II. THE BAD SHEPHERDS - (SPIRITUAL LEADERS).
A. They feed themselves - not the flock. Vs. 2, 3.
1. They live off the flock but are not really concerned
for it.
2. More interested in fleecing the flock than feeding the
flock.
B. They care not for the flock.
1. They don't seek to heal the sick among the flock.
2. They don't search for the lost.
3. They rule over the flock with force and cruelty.
III. THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
A. Search for my sheep and seek them out. Vs. 11.
1. Gather them again to mountains of Israel.
2. Feed them.
3. Bind up the broken.
4. Restore to health the sick.
B. Set-up one shepherd, even David.
1. Now Ezekiel was in Babylon when he was prophesying
these things to the scattered remnant.
2. Back in Jerusalem, God was delivering the same message
through Jeremiah, 23.
a. Woe to false shepherds who had scattered sheep.
b. The promise of the good Shepherd, Vs. 5:
"Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I
will raise unto David a righteous branch."
IV. A PROPHESY TO THE NATION ISRAEL.
A. The prediction of their being scattered because of their
faithless shepherds.
1. It was the spiritual leaders that instituted the plot
against Jesus.
a. Jesus posed a real threat to them and their
lucrative profiteering from the people who came
to worship God.
b. They had made the house of God a den of
thieves.
B. The prediction of their being gathered again.
1. At the time of the re-gathering, will the Lord send the
righteous branch of David to rule and shepherd over
them.
2. There shall be showers of blessings.
C. Israel is being re-gathered - the time has come for the
righteous Shepherd.
1. But we - the church - do know Him already.
2. We have followed Him as a faithful guide.
3. He laid down His life for us.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - '{''A'': ''David''s allusions to the flock of God.'', ''B'': ''Ezekiel 34''s significance.'', ''C'': ''Zechariah 11''s reference to the false shepherd.'', ''D'': ''Jesus as the good Shepherd in John 10.''}' - Analogies of the Shepherd with the Flock
- II points: - '{''A'': ''Self-serving leaders who exploit the flock.'', ''B'': ''Neglect and cruelty towards the flock.''}' - The Bad Shepherds - Spiritual Leaders
- III points: - '{''A'': ''His commitment to seek and care for His sheep.'', ''B'': ''The promise of a righteous shepherd from David.''}' - The Good Shepherd
- IV points: - '{''A'': ''Prediction of scattering due to faithless shepherds.'', ''B'': ''Promise of gathering and blessings.'', ''C'': ''Recognition of the good Shepherd by the church.''}' - A Prophecy to the Nation Israel
Key Quotes
“The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” — Chuck Smith
“Woe to false shepherds who had scattered sheep.” — Chuck Smith
“He laid down His life for us.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Recognize the importance of spiritual leaders who genuinely care for their flock.
- Seek to emulate the good Shepherd in our own lives by caring for others.
- Stay vigilant against those who exploit spiritual authority for personal gain.