Continuing to read in Ezekiel and John this morning, and the two readings come together.

In Ezekiel, while there’s been a whole lot of judgment pronounced thus far upon the nation of Israel, the Judge’s focus now turns to Israel’s shepherds. While God’s flock will be accountable for their own sin, God’s shepherds — beyond being responsible for their own iniquity — are held accountable for the manner in which they neglected to shepherd. They did not tend the flock. They did not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, nor did they bandage the injured. They did not bring back the strays. They did not seek the lost. Instead, they ruled over their charge with violence and cruelty (Ezek. 34:3b-4).

Thus, these shepherds had direct culpability for a flock which had been scattered, a flock which had gone astray. And a scattered flock is an endangered flock. A flock gone astray is a flock in peril.

“They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered. . . My flock, lacking a shepherd, has become prey and food for every wild animal . . .”

(Ezekiel 34:5,8b CSB)

Wayward, wandering, wicked Israel — sheep without a shepherd — had become prey. Left with no spiritual leadership, they were left as food for every wild animal. With no direction, they were being served up for dinner. Lacking correction, they were ripe for consumption. With no shepherd, they were left as supper for any adversary prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But God would do what Israel’s shepherds did not. God would search for His flock. He would look for His flock. He would rescue His flock. And He would shepherd His flock. God would tend them in good pasture, and they would lie down in good grazing places. (34:10b-15). He would do what they should have done.

“I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak.”

(Ezekiel 34:16a CSB)

And what really grabs me this morning is the twice repeated declaration that God’s flock would no longer be prey.

“I will save My flock. They will no longer be prey . . . They will know that I am the Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the power of those who enslave them. They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild creatures of the earth will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten them.”

(Ezekiel 34:22a, 27b-28 CSB)

No longer prey! That is the declaration of all who had gone astray but now are in the fold. That is the victory cry for every sheep once lost but now found. That is the reality of all those under the loving care of the Good Shepherd, God the Shepherd.

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. . . . My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” ~ Jesus

(John 10:14-15, 27-30 CSB)

No longer prey. No longer feasted on by a flesh-ruled heart. No longer dinner for a destitute world. No longer lunch for a roaring lion. Safe in the hands of the Son. Secure in the hands of the Father.

The LORD is my shepherd . . . I am no longer prey.

Oh, what wondrous grace! To God be the glory!