Reading 'Verbatim', the Book of the Old Testament, 'Ezekiel - Chapter 34', Post 34-Intact, March 10, 2021

​Welcome, welcome back, my friends. 

I pray that you have had a wonderful time to review our 'wonderful book' - 'Ezekiel', over the past few weeks.  And now, let us continue and conclude with the Prophetic Book of 'Ezekiel', Chapters 25-32; 33-48.

Then, we shall take another short break and continue with the posting of the Prophetic book of  'Daniel'.  Remember, when we start 'Daniel.', with 'Daniel', I shall also post it in 'conjunction with' - 'the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ'.  It is so very important to post in this manner, for you see, 'Daniel Explains Much' in 'the Book of the Revelation', the very last book of the Holy Bible, found in the New Testament. 
audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

Thus, we need to keep 'God's Word' in relevant context at all times, but, especially in these days, which are perilous. [2 Timothy 3] audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html

​For reference - Ongoing
Reading Verbatim, the Books of the Old Testament, 'Intro to Ezekiel and Daniel', MWF, Post A, November 2, 2020
Reading Verbatim, the Books of the Old Testament, 'Intro to Ezekiel and Daniel', MWF, Post B, November 4, 2020
Reading Verbatim, the Books of the Old Testament, 'Intro to Ezekiel and Daniel', MWF, Post C-Post-script, November 6, 2020
​Reading 'Verbatim', the Book of the Old Testament, 'Ezekiel - Chapter 24', Post 24-PM, January 8, 2021, includes links to all posted through Chapters 1-24. ​​
​
​The Main Aspects of his Teaching. audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
       (1) Denunciation of Judah's sins and the downfall of Jerusalem, Chs.1-24.
       (2) Judgments upon foreign nations, Chs.25-33. [Resuming February 22-24-26-27, 2021/Chapters 25-28; March 2-3-4-5, 2021/Chapters 29-32]
       (3) Repentance as a condition of salvation, 18:30-32.
       (4) The glorious restoration of Israel, 16:60; 27:22-24; 20:40; Chs.33-48. [March-May, 2021]
       (5) The freedom and responsibility of the individual soul before God. 18:20-32.
       (6) The necessity of a new heart and a new spirit, 11:19: 18:31; 36:26.

Outline  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
I. Ezekiel's Call, Chs.1-3. [November 16-18-20, 2020]
1. Preliminary vision, Ch.1.
2. The call, Chs.2-3.
II. The Destruction of Jerusalem, Chs.4-24.  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html
1. The siege and certain judgment of the city, Chs.4-7, [November 23-24-26-27, 2020]
2. The condition of the city and the sins of the people, Chs.8-19. [December 7-24, 2020] Break]
3. Renewed proofs and predictions of the doom of Judah and Jerusalem, Chs.20-24. [January, 2021] Break
III. Predictions against Foreign Nations and Cities. Chs.25-32. [Late February-March, 2021 and continuing]
IV. Prophecies concerning the Restoration, Chs.33-48. [March 8, 2021 -April, 2021, est.]
1. The restoration of Judah to the promised land, Chs.33-39. [March 8-26, 2021]
2. The Messianic times, Chs.40-48. audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html [April, 2021]

​Over the next three weeks, we shall post Chapters 33-39 - 'the restoration of Judah' to the 'Promised land',  
​Ezekiel Chapter 34  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
The rulers reproved. (1-6) The people are to be restored to their own land. (7-16) The kingdom of Christ. (17-31)
​
1 'And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

Notes: 1-6 'The people became as sheep without a shepherd, were given up as a prey to their enemies, and the land was utterly desolated. No rank or office can exempt from the reproofs of God's word, men who neglect their duty, and abuse the trust reposed in them.' audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html ​

The people are to be restored to their own land. (7-16) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
7 'Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
11 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.'

​The people are to be restored to their own land. (7-16) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
Notes: 7-16 'The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd's tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to rest on his love and faithfulness. The proud and self-sufficient, are enemies of the true gospel and of believers; against such we must guard. He has rest for disquieted saints, and terror for presumptuous sinners.'

​The kingdom of Christ. (17-31) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
17 And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
18 Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
19 And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
21 Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
24 And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
26 And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.'

​The kingdom of Christ. (17-31) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 

​Notes: 17-31 'The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock, yet they were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish between them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, 23-31, prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Under Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant out of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness.' Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.