Compare Isaiah 56:10 with Ezekiel 34:2-6 on shepherding responsibilities. Key Scriptures “Israel’s watchmen are blind; they all lack knowledge. They are all mute dogs, unable to bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to sleep.” “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and with cruelty. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. My flock went astray on all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, and no one searched or looked for them.’ ” Isaiah’s Picture: Silent Watchmen • Blind – no spiritual vision or discernment • Ignorant – lacking true knowledge of God’s word and ways • Mute dogs – unable (or unwilling) to warn of danger • Drowsy – preferring comfort and sleep over vigilance The core failure: neglecting the basic duty to see and shout. A shepherd who does not watch is a shepherd in name only. Ezekiel’s Picture: Self-Indulgent Shepherds • Feed themselves, not the flock – exploitative leadership • Consume the sheep’s resources – “eat the fat, wear the wool” • Neglect tangible care – no strengthening, healing, binding, gathering • Govern harshly – “violence and cruelty” • Result: scattered, vulnerable sheep with no one searching for them The core failure: using the flock rather than serving it. Shared Indictment Both passages expose leaders who abandon God-given responsibilities. Compare the parallels: • Watchfulness vs. blindness (Isaiah 56:10 / Ezekiel 34:5) • Protection vs. vulnerability (mute dogs / sheep food for beasts) • Care vs. exploitation (sleeping dogs / self-feeding shepherds) • Accountability: in both texts the Lord Himself steps in to judge and ultimately rescue His flock (cf. Isaiah 56:11-12; Ezekiel 34:10-16). Positive Model of Biblical Shepherding Scripture sets the standard by revealing God and His Messiah as the perfect Shepherd: • Psalm 23 – The LORD who feeds, guides, protects • Ezekiel 34:11-16 – God personally seeks, gathers, and tends His sheep • John 10:11-14 – Jesus, “the good shepherd,” lays down His life for the sheep • Hebrews 13:20 – Jesus, “the great Shepherd of the sheep” Human leaders are called to mirror that pattern: • Acts 20:28 – “Shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.” • 1 Peter 5:2-3 – “Shepherd God’s flock… not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples.” Essential Responsibilities Summarized 1. Watch – maintain spiritual alertness, discern threats, sound the alarm. 2. Feed – provide sound doctrine, healthy teaching, and spiritual nourishment. 3. Protect – shield from wolves, error, and harm with courageous leadership. 4. Heal – bind wounds, strengthen the weak, minister compassion. 5. Seek – pursue the straying, value every individual, welcome back the lost. 6. Serve – lead selflessly, never exploiting the flock for personal gain. 7. Answer – recognize ultimate accountability to the Chief Shepherd (Hebrews 13:17). Practical Implications Today • Elders, pastors, and ministry leaders must regularly test their motives: “Am I feeding or consuming the flock?” • Congregations should pray for and support leaders who prioritize vigilance and care. • Every believer can imitate the Shepherd’s heart—looking out for brothers and sisters who are weak, wounded, or wandering (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20). • Genuine shepherding is measured not by size, fame, or comfort but by faithful oversight, sacrificial love, and the spiritual health of the sheep. Isaiah and Ezekiel leave no room for passive or self-centered leadership. The Lord seeks shepherds who reflect His own relentless, protective, nurturing heart. |
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