How does Ezekiel 34:6 highlight the responsibility of spiritual leaders today? “My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the face of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them.” The Scene Ezekiel Describes • God’s people are pictured as sheep—vulnerable, directionless, exposed. • Their plight is widespread (“over all the mountains… over the face of the earth”)—it’s not a minor, localized issue. • The tragic refrain: “there was no one to search or seek for them.” The shepherds—the very ones appointed to care—are absent. What God Expected of Those Shepherds • Protection: guarding from predators (Acts 20:29). • Provision: leading to nourishing pasture (Psalm 23:1-3). • Presence: willingly going after the straying (Luke 15:4-7). • Personal knowledge of the flock: knowing each sheep by name (John 10:3). How the Verse Exposes Failed Leadership • Neglect—They saw scattered sheep yet did nothing. • Indifference—Their own comfort outweighed the flock’s safety (Ezekiel 34:2-4). • Abdication—The duty to search and rescue was simply abandoned. Timeless Lessons for Spiritual Leaders Today • God still holds leaders accountable; His standard has not shifted (James 3:1). • Wandering believers are not blamed first; leaders are (Ezekiel 34:10). • Absence of shepherding leads inevitably to dispersal and danger; neutrality is never neutral. The Call to Active Shepherding 1. Seek the scattered • Pursue those drifting from fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Refuse to let distance or inconvenience deter pursuit. 2. Feed the flock • Offer clear, consistent exposition of Scripture (2 Timothy 4:2). • Guard against spiritual malnutrition—opinions cannot replace the Word. 3. Guard against predators • Identify false teaching early (Titus 1:9). • Confront error lovingly yet firmly (Jude 3-4). 4. Lead by example • Model humble service (1 Peter 5:2-3). • Show visible compassion when a sheep suffers (Romans 12:15). Practical Takeaways for Today’s Pastors, Elders, and Teachers • Keep accurate, up-to-date awareness of who is missing from gatherings. • Schedule regular shepherding visits or calls—don’t wait for crisis. • Train additional under-shepherds; one leader cannot cover every mountain. • Pray over the membership roll with intentionality, asking God to reveal any “scattered” hearts. • Preach Christ as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) so the flock looks to Him, not merely to human leaders. A Final Perspective Ezekiel 34:6 is a stark snapshot of neglected sheep, but it also issues a standing summons to every spiritual leader: go after the wanderers. A faithful shepherd today will not allow any part of the flock to remain lost on distant hills; he will search, seek, and lead them home under the ultimate care of Christ, “the Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4). |
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