God's Shepherd

Ezekiel 34:1-31

The model of godly leadership laid out in Scripture is one of servant leadership. The leader is appointed not to lord it over the people but to shepherd the people and guide them in living God’s way. The authority of the leader is delegated by God to them. The leader should thus should reflect the heart of God in the way they lead.

Verses 1-10 of this passage paint a picture of self-serving leadership which promoted the comfort of the shepherd over the needs of the flock. This stands in stark contrast to the picture of the good shepherd in Psalm 23 where the needs and protection of the sheep are the foremost priority of the shepherd. The vacuum created by the poor leadership described by Ezekiel resulted in the people being scattered, hurt, broken and abandoned.

God therefore declares that, ‘I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out’ (v11). His heart is always for His sheep, His people. His search will bring the scattered flock from the nations. They will be gathered to a safe place where there will be rest and pasture (v14), nourishment (v15), healing and restoration (v16).

However, God goes further and declares that He will select His own shepherd, the Ultimate Shepherd, who will be a servant of God (see the Servant posts) (v23). What comes to light here is the fact that this Ultimate Shepherd will be of the line of David.  Since Ezekiel prophesied after David had died, he can’t be referring directly to David. Instead he is prophesying that One will emerge who would be of the line of David. He will be one who will faithfully shepherd the people. He will feed them (v23) and he will lead them back to God (v24).

This, therefore, is a passage of great hope and optimism as we see God’s people being gathered and restored in order that they may fulfil their destiny. But for this to happen there needs to be a day when they are provided with His shepherd who will burn with compassion for the lost sheep of Israel and provide a way of leading them back into the blessings of God.

And in Jesus that day would come!

Further reading:     Matthew 9:35-38

Worship video:

To think about:
Jesus’ mission on earth was to lead people to God. Our mission is the same – that our lives point to God. That people see Jesus in the way we speak and act. What changes do you need to make so that people can see more of Jesus in you?

Creative Response:

Journal page by Bernice

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The new covenant

Jeremiah 31:27-34

The people of Israel were a covenant people. A covenant is a two-sided agreement. Both parties pledge to keep the promises they have made. God had made a covenant with the nation after they had been rescued from Egypt and brought out to Mount Sinai. There He promised to be their God and they would be His people (see Exodus 19:1-6 and Deuteronomy 5:1-21). Clearly, in the case of this covenant, God kept His side of the agreement but the people did not. But, it wasn’t even that they messed up a little bit on a rare occasion. Instead, they consistently proved themselves to be entirely untrustworthy, sinful and unfaithful.

It is this theme which the prophet Jeremiah picks up. Jeremiah 31:32 outlines the problem: God had made a covenant with Israel but Israel had broken it. This covenant mirrored the marriage covenant but Israel had not honoured her faithful husband.

But God had not given up! Instead He planned to introduce a new covenant, a better one (v31). This new covenant, instead of being external, would be internal (v33). Instead of being written on tablets of stone, would be written on their hearts (v33). Instead of them being taught about knowing God, they would actually know their God (v34). Instead of the covenant highlighting their sin, it would ensure that their sin was dealt with (v34).

So how could such a thing possibly happen? Well, the new covenant needed a mediator, someone through whom the covenant could be introduced. This mediator would be Jesus (see Hebrews 8:6, 9:15). The new covenant could only be instituted when a death occurred and so Jesus’ death would inaugurate the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15-22). This in turn would open up the way for the Holy Spirit to write the law on our hearts and enable us to know our God.

Jeremiah’s promise of a new covenant points us to consider Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant!

Further reading:     Hebrews 8:1-9:22

Worship video:

To think about:
As Christians we are covenant people. The New Testament is full of God’s promises to us. What promises of God are you standing on?

Creative Response:

art work by Esther

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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord

Isaiah 61:1-11

This prophecy describes a person anointed by the Spirit bringing about significant change in the lives of individuals and also having a global impact. It is a magnificent picture of God’s Anointed One and the transformation He will generate.

As in Isaiah 11 it is the Spirit of the Lord who will empower this person to conduct their ministry. But this is not an isolated occasion when the Spirit comes and empowers someone for a short period of time. Instead, this passage describes the resting of the Spirit upon the person and an anointing that remains for an indefinite period of time. The image is of someone who will live a life that is influenced, guided and empowered by the Spirit.

In verse 1 we see described the impact of this person on 4 different groups of people: the poor receive the good news, the brokenhearted are bound up or healed, the captives are given liberty and the prisoners granted freedom. This is part of the ‘year of the favour of the Lord’ (v2), otherwise known as the Jubilee. This was a year which was dedicated to God and involved the redemption of people and property (see Leviticus 25). People were able to return to their family inheritance and land. Slaves were released from servitude. Situations were put right. All this was part of the proclamation of the good news.

Alongside the ‘year of favour of the Lord’ there was another aspect, which Isaiah describes as the ‘day of vengeance of our God’ in verse 2. There was a requirement for the people to live God’s way and thus receive the blessing of the Jubilee. But if they didn’t then a day of judgement would come instead of a year of favour. It is worth pondering the contrast of timescales of ‘day of vengeance’ and ‘year of favour’!

The prophecy goes on to describe the many contrasts and blessings that this person will usher in: comfort and gladness instead of mourning (v3), praise instead of weeping (v3), rebuilding instead of ruins (v4), raising up instead of devastation (v4), blessing instead of shame (v7) and joy instead of humiliation (v7). Above all, though, will be the fact that the people will be known as belonging to God (v9) and will be clothed with salvation and righteousness (v10).

At the start of His earthly ministry Jesus attributes this passage to Himself in a startling way. He reads out the passage and amazingly declares, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’ (Luke 4:21). Not only does He reveal Himself as the fulfilment of this hope-filled prophecy but He also claims that it is fulfilled ‘today’!

And we now live as the benefactors of Jesus bringing this about as a reality for people. Jesus truly has ‘Today fulfilled this Scripture’ (see Luke 4:21).

Further reading:      Luke 4:14-21       Leviticus 25:8-17

Worship video:

To think about:
Jesus told us that we would do greater things than he had done (John 14:12) because he was giving us authority to do that. How does his authority present itself in your life? Do you believe that you have the authority to bring healing, blessing, comfort and righteousness?

Or
‘The prophecy of Isaiah 61 is about the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord resting on His servant. Given that as Christians we now have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us how does your life reflect the transformations described in the passage?’

Creative Response:

Art work by Esther

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The Servant (5): The servant and sin

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

There is so much that could be commented on in this fourth Servant Song that the least I could do was write a second post!

Last time, we looked at the physical suffering the Servant would endure as part of His mission. This time we will look at what will transpire to be the ultimate reason for His mission: The Servant is going to deal with sin.

Verse 4 begins by indicating that the suffering of the Servant was not simply poor judgement on His part or human jealousy on the part of others but instead that the Servant would suffer for ‘our griefs (or sicknesses) and our sorrows’ (v4). The phrases then stack up one after another:
‘He was pierced for our transgressions’ (v5)

‘He was crushed for our iniquities’ (v5)

‘The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him’ (v6)

‘He was cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of my people…’ (v8)

‘He would render Himself as a guilt offering’ (v10)

‘My Servant will justify the many as He will bear their iniquities’ (v11)

‘He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors’ (v12)

The Servant’s mission was focussed on the defeat of sin. His sacrifice would rid sin of its power to enslave, kill, maim and destroy.

And yet this seems inherently unjust. The transgressions, sins and iniquities are those of others, not the Servant Himself. His suffering was all to be on behalf of others. The result is that others will be saved and healed (v5). Those who should have been punished walk free while the ‘Righteous One’ (v11) suffers.

And note that this is for many (vv11,12). The One will suffer for many. His sacrifice will be sufficient to deal with the sin of all.

Also, note that this is God’s will and work. He causes it to happen (v6) and ‘The Lord was pleased to crush Him’ (v10).

Dealing with our sin required the crushing of the sinless One.

Shocking.

Terrifying.

Freeing.

Further reading:     1 Peter 2:21-25

Worship video:

To think about:
Jesus took our sin upon himself so that we might walk in freedom. When we repent, God forgives us and we are free. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there are still areas of your life where you are not totally free.

Creative Response:

'Sin Entangles'  artwork by Esther

Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them.

Please share your creative response using the linky below. To use the linky click on 'Click here to enter'. You will need the URL from your own blog or from a photosharing website like Flickr. Alternatively share your response in the Facebook group.