Scripture Reading: Ezek. 33:7, 11; 34:11-16, 23-31
Ⅰ
In His recovery by life, the first thing the Lord does is to send the watchman to warn His people and cause them to repent, turn, and live—Ezek. 33:7, 11; Isa. 62:6-7; Matt. 3:1-2; Col. 1:28-29; Acts 20:26-27.
Ⅱ
After the warning of the watchman, the Lord Himself comes as the Shepherd to search for His sheep and seek them out—Ezek. 34:11-31; Luke 15:3-10; Matt. 9:36; John 10:11; 21:15-17; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 5:3-4:
A
Our not having the Father's loving and forgiving heart and the Savior's shepherding and seeking spirit is the reason for our barrenness—Ezek. 34:4-5.
B
The content of God's entire New Testament economy in His complete salvation is Christ as the Son of Man cherishing us and as the Son of God nourishing us—Eph. 5:29; 1 Tim. 1:15; Eph. 1:7; John 10:10; 1 Cor. 15:45b:
１
We need to cherish people (to make them happy and to make them feel pleasant and comfortable) in the humanity of Jesus—Matt. 9:10.
２
We need to nourish people (to feed them with the all-inclusive Christ in His ministry of three stages) in the divinity of Christ—24:45-47.
C
The Lord brings us out from among the unbelievers to Himself—Ezek. 34:12-13a; cf. Eph. 2:12-13.
D
He brings us to our own land, signifying Christ as the good land of Canaan—Ezek. 34:13b; cf. Col. 1:12.
E
He brings us back to the high mountains, signifying the resurrected and ascended Christ—Ezek. 34:13-14.
F
He brings us back to the rivers, signifying the living water of the life-giving Spirit—v. 13; Rev. 22:1; 1 Cor. 12:13; Psa. 36:8.
G
He feeds His flock by the rivers, signifying His feeding us with His riches—Ezek. 34:13; Rev. 22:1-2a.
H
He brings us back to the good and rich pasture, signifying Christ as our life supply—Ezek. 34:14; Psa. 23:2; John 10:9; cf. 1 Tim. 1:4.
I
He causes us to lie down, giving us inward rest—Ezek. 34:15; S. S. 1:7; Matt. 11:28-30.
J
He binds up that which was broken and strengthens that which was sick, signifying His binding up and healing the brokenhearted and sick ones—Ezek. 34:16a; Isa. 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-19; Matt. 9:9-13:
１
He had to pass through Samaria, purposely detouring to Sychar to gain one immoral woman, cherishing her by asking her to give Him something to drink that He might nourish her with the flowing Triune God as the water of life—John 4:3-14.
２
As the One without sin, He did not condemn the adulterous woman but cherished her for the forgiveness of her sins judicially and for the setting free from her sins organically—8:1-11, 32, 36.
３
He went to Jericho just to visit and gain one person, a chief tax collector, and His preaching was a shepherding—Luke 19:1-10.
４
He cherished the parents by laying His hands on their children—Matt. 19:13-15.
５
The first one saved by Christ through His crucifixion was a robber sentenced to death—Luke 23:42-43.
６
Paul was one with the Lord to shepherd the saints as a nursing mother and an exhorting father—1 Thes. 2:7-8, 11-12; Acts 20:19-20, 27, 31:
ａ
He came down to the weak ones' level so that He could gain them— 2 Cor. 11:28-29; 1 Cor. 9:22; cf. Matt. 12:20.
ｂ
Paul indicated in his teaching that the church is a home to raise up people, a hospital to heal and recover them, and a school to teach and edify them—Eph. 2:19; 1 Thes. 5:14; 1 Cor. 14:31.
ｃ
Paul revealed that love is the most excellent way for us to be anything and to do anything for the building up of the Body of Christ—8:1; 12:31; 13:4-8a; cf. 2 Cor. 7:3; Philem. 7, 12.
K
The Lord exercises righteous judgments among us, clearing away all the unjust things—Ezek. 34:17-22; Col. 3:15.
L
Christ is the real David, the real Shepherd, set up as the one Shepherd to feed us and cause us to be filled and satisfied—Ezek. 34:23:
１
He takes care of us, including all our problems and responsibilities and every aspect of our living—Psa. 23.
２
The issue of the Lord's caring for us as our Shepherd is that we obey Him as our King and come under His kingship—Rev. 7:17.
M
As we experience the Lord's shepherding and remain under His kingship, we enjoy His covenant of peace and are no longer subject to spiritual troubles and disturbances—Ezek. 37:26a:
１
Under His shepherding, all the evil beasts, evil persons, are kept away from the Lord's recovered people—34:25a; cf. Acts 20:28-29; Phil. 3:2-3.
２
He breaks all our yokes, including the yokes of sin and the world, and delivers us from all kinds of slavery—Ezek. 34:27b.
３
He promises that we will not be a prey to the enemy and that we will dwell in peace and safety—vv. 28a, 25b.
N
He causes us to become a source of blessing to others that they may be supplied with Him as the showers of blessing and as the plant of renown—vv. 26-27a, 29; Zech. 10:1; Ezek. 36:35.
O
Through the experience of His shepherding, we have God's presence; we are His and He is ours in our fellowship with Him in oneness for the mingling of God and man—34:30-31.