When I read Ezekiel 34, I am again reminded that nothing is new. What is happening today has happened before. What God rebuked then, he rebukes now. In Ezekiel 34, we are presented with an allegory. The shepherds were not doing their job tending to the needs of the flock. In plain speak, the religious and political leaders of Israel were not doing their job tending to the needs of the Israelite people.
The prophet Ezekiel pronounced an indictment against these leaders of Israel and their cronies. Those who should have been leading and caring for the people were:
- keeping the best of everything for themselves instead of providing for all;
- ignoring those in need—the sick, weak, and impoverished—rather than providing care, healing, and comfort; and
- allowing predators to harm and take advantage of the marginalized rather than providing protection.
These leaders had forgotten the job for which they were elected or appointed. Moreover, the cronies of those leaders were also profiting from the misfortunes of others. They had forgotten to hold fast to the Lord and keep His laws. There are over 600 Mosaic laws, but summarized by Jesus they tell us to (1) love God with our heart, soul, and mind and (2) love our neighbor.
What Ezekiel prophesied in the 6th century BC sounds eerily like what is occurring in the U.S. in 21st century AD. We have an elected public servant at the helm of our country who is still profiting from his private businesses. According to OpenSecrets.org, this leader “has refused to do as his predecessors have done: sever ties to the companies or financial interests that may pose, or present the appearance of, a conflict of interest. By keeping his assets in a family-managed trust, which he can revoke at any time, Trump and his family are in the unique position to profit directly from his public service.” This leader has desperately tried to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, a valuable healthcare safety net, especially during a time when people have lost their jobs and healthcare because of the pandemic. In a day when Black lives are cut short or harmed because of unnecessarily brutal police tactics or unwarranted White fear, this leader has not taken a stance to stem the tide; instead, his words and actions have spawned a surge. He exhibits the same lack of care and concern that Ezekiel prophesied against.
But there is hope. If we continue the story in Ezekiel, we see that God saw those injustices. He heard the cry of the people. Ezekiel told of God’s plan to remove those ineffective, self-serving leaders and their cronies. He would replace them with a caring, loving, healing, compassionate, and just leader—Himself.
Today, we as a nation cry out to God. We plead for the injustices to cease. We implore for healing from the pandemic. We petition for a leader who leads as a good shepherd should. It is my hope that God has heard our prayers, our cries, our pleas, and He will have mercy on us. It is my hope today that God will heed our cry for a leader who exemplifies what the apostle Paul said to the believers in Philippi:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)
Today I pray for a good shepherd to lead us.
Reflect: How have you maintained your faith in God despite the bad shepherd? If you are not happy with the current state of our nation, what are you doing to change it?
Pray: Lord, we as a nation cry out to you. We suffer under the yoke of an unkind, unsympathetic, uncaring shepherd. We ask that you remove this bad shepherd and replace him with a good shepherd, one who knows the ultimate Good Shepherd. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Very well put