Ok . . . there may be other combinations of Old Testament and New Testament passages that form as powerful an impact . . . but they don’t come to mind right now. The Ezekiel 34 / John 10 pairing has got to rank as one of the most powerful combos in my reading plan . . . almost makes me want to just quote both of them here and be done . . . with the tag line . . . “Thank God I’m part of His flock!”

In Ezekiel 34, God blasts the shepherds of Israel . . . those entrusted with the spiritual care of the people of God. He blasts them because they fed themselves instead of feeding the sheep . . . they placed themselves above the sheep . . . they neglected the sheep in order to pursue their own interests . . . they viewed the sheep as a means for them to profit. That kind of shepherd behavior (or lack thereof) sure seems to tick off the Lord . . . but more importantly, His gaze is consumed with the lost sheep . . . and so He acts . . .

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold I, I myself will search for My sheep and will seek them out . . . I seek out My sheep, and I will rescue them . . . I will bring them out . . . I will feed them . . . I Myself will be the shepherd of My sheep . . . I will seek the lost . . . I will bring back the strayed . . . I will bind up the injured . . . I will strengthen the weak . . . I will feed them in justice . . . I will rescue My flock . . . And I will set up over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be a prince among them . . . And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them . . . And you are My sheep, human sheep of My pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 34:11-31 ESV)

Does God have a heart for sheep? Is He in the flock-building business? I’m thinkin’!

Fast forward a number of centuries, and, in John 10, Jesus is in debate with another set of shepherds of Israel, the Pharisees . . . and declares . . .

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep . . . I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me . . . I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd . . . My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me . . . I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand . . . My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:11-29 ESV)

How much does God care for lost sheep? Enough to send His Son to lay down His life for lost sheep. How much does God desire to bring lost sheep into relationship with Himself? Enough to go out Himself to find them . . . through His Son, the King of the line of David . . . through His Spirit, convicting men’s spirits of their sin and wooing men’s souls to Himself. To what extent is God committed to shepherding His flock? To the uttermost . . . feeding those who are hungry . . . rescuing those who stray . . . binding up those who break down . . . strengthening those who are weak. How long does God want to be with His flock and His flock with Him? Forever . . . for eternity . . . through eternal life . . . no one able to snatch one His sheep from His hand.

And I hear the Shepherd’s voice this morning. And I sense the Shepherd’s heart. And I “snuggle in” before my day begins and simply enjoy the Shepherd’s presence. Glad to be a sheep. Grateful that, by His grace, I have heard His voice. In awe again of the depths to which He pursued this wayward lamb, that I might know the blessedness of being part of His flock. Not because I’m a particularly good sheep . . . but because He is the Good Shepherd.

Thank God I’m part of His flock! . . . it’s all by His grace . . . it’s all for His glory . . . amen.