Ez. 33-34
We read about watchmen and shepherds today. I’m no prophet, and I’m not a leader of Israel, so what do these chapters have to do with me? Likely far more than I can even grasp, but let me start with this thought. Since a prophet is the mouthpiece of God, Jesus was the ultimate prophet. Part of His purpose here on earth was to declare God’s truth and the redemption from sin to all who would listen. Sounds a lot like the watchman, right? Jesus was also, by His own declaration, the Good Shepherd that God promised here in Ezekiel chapter 34. So another part of His purpose here on earth was to do all of those things that the shepherds of Israel were not doing.
Great…so we see how both of these things apply directly to Jesus. The next link in the chain is that Jesus left us to continue His work here on earth. The Holy Spirit was sent to indwell us so that we would be empowered to take on the task. If sounding the warning to urge people toward redemption and strengthening the weak, healing the sick, binding up the injured, bringing back the strays, and seeking the lost were all part of Jesus’ mission, and we have been chosen to carry on His mission, then are we not responsible to do all of these things as well?
Of course, we are not Jesus. But as Jesus’ bride, the Church is His helpmate. So we together, as the bride of Christ, work alongside Him to accomplish His good work. None of us has to take on the whole task alone, and none of us is responsible for the outcome. But each one of us is individually responsible to live in obedience to God so that we will be ready, willing, and able to meet the opportunities that pass before us to warn and to serve and to love others.
1 Pet. 5
Again with the relevance! In this chapter, Peter exhorts the Church leaders to shepherd God’s flock like Jesus did and not like the shepherds of Israel mentioned in Ezekiel 34. They were to exercise oversight, “not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet 5:2b-3). And again, this concept trickles down to any Christian in any position of any kind of authority.
Peter continues with this theme that both he and Paul harped on continuously . Those in authority should lead with a loving spirit of service and those who are subject to authority should respectfully submit. Ultimately it all boils down to what Peter said in verse 5. “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’”.