"You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken."
Ezekiel 34:31
Ezekiel 34:31
My Take Aways
Something Old:
Do I tend to the sick, bound, or injured? Or do I selfishly take care of myself, totally unaware of needs around me?
Something New:
Our Shepherd
Searches for His sheep (11)
Brings His sheep back (13)
Feeds His sheep (14)
Gives His sheep a peaceful place to rest (15)
Cares for the wounds of His sheep (16)
Strengthens His sheep (16)
Blesses His sheep (26)
Makes provisions for His Sheep (26)
Protects and cares for the reputation of His Sheep (29)
Something to Do:
Look for needs around me -tend to His sheep
Hebrews 13:19-21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and my He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Links to additional Shepherd verses-good stuff
John 10:11
John 10:14
1 Peter 2:25
1 Peter 5:4
19 Comments:
Good Monday all!
I loved all the references of the Shepherd today! I loved the promises too. After days of revelation about God's anger and justice, we now see restoration and peace.
Chapter 36:22-27 shows what God will do for the sake of His holy Name.
What:
* bring you back
* sprinkle water on you, and you will be clean
* give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you
* put My Spirit in you so you will follow my decrees and obey my regulations.
Why:
* protect My Holy Name
* show you how holy my Name is
* reveal my holiness through you to others
* the nations will know that I am the LORD
I looked up "Name" as a name of God and found this from Bible.org (link: http://bible.org/article/names-god):
There are a number of instances where no name of God is employed, but where simply the term “name” in reference to God is used as the point of focus:
(1) Abraham called on the name of the Lord (Gen. 12:8; 13:4).
(2) The Lord proclaimed His own name before Moses (Ex. 33:19; 34:5).
(3) Israel was warned against profaning the name of the Lord (Lev. 13:21; 22:2, 32).
(4) The name of the Lord was not to be taken in vain (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11).
(5) The priests of Israel were to minister in the name of the Lord (Deut. 18:5; 21:5).
(6) The name of God is called “wonderful” in Judges 13:18.
(7) To call on the name of the Lord was to worship Him as God (Gen. 21:33; 26:25).
Consequently, from this we can conclude that such phrases as “the name of the LORD” or “the name of God” refer to God’s whole character. It was a summary statement embodying the entire person of God.
When we turn to the New Testament we find the same. The name Jesus is used in a similar way to the name of God in the Old Testament:
(1) Salvation is through His name (John 1:12).
(2) Believers are to gather in His name (Matt. 18:20).
(3) Prayer is to be made in His name (John 14:13-14).
(4) The servant of the Lord who bears the name of Christ will be hated (Matt. 10:22).
(5) The book of Acts makes frequent mention of worship, service, and suffering in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:18; 5:28, 41; 10:43; 19:17).
(6) It is at the name of Jesus that every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).
So, just as the name of God in the Old Testament spoke of the holy character of God the Father, so the name of Jesus in the New Testament speaks of the holy character of God the Son.
In His Name I pray for you all today.
Karen, Basel
Hey, Karen, I made a list that looks a lot like yours. It was GREAT to see how He's going to restore Israel. It sounds like there will be much peace and the opportunity for the surrounding nations to say, "I want what they have!" and maybe it will lead to deeper faith questions. I was reading on Joel Rosenberg's blog the other day about the huge numbers of Messianic Christians who are now living in Israel and the US. Times are changing and God is working! :-) Thanks, too, for the Edom links. I checked them out yesterday and they were very interesting. I just love to see how what was written and foretold so long ago is still true and is coming true today. It's so exciting!
Off to get short people ready for school! Dave has to go to work early today so the boys and I are taking Andi. She's been doing 'homework' all weekend to give to her friends. She loves it!
Happy Monday!
My Old: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will know longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, ad I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations” (Ezekiel 36: 25,25,27).
With all of the trouble God has done for us, it just makes me wonder, why? Then, He tells us: He loves us! To me, this love He continues to show us remains - uncomprehensible, inconceivable, and unfathomable! He is so patient, and forever faithful, to those of us special ones, ones that thankfully, He has set aside, for His very own! Thank you, Lord!
My New: “So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal” (Ezekiel 34:5).
This sentence stood out to me, too –Wendy you taught us today on the Shepherd, also. I thought about the many Christians who are not in His Word, or who even are not attending Corporate Worship with other believers. Their busy-ness has become their way of life. They do not set Sunday apart; - to them, it remains another week day, filled with activities. If we do not put ourselves smack dab near a shepherd, we will be prey to our environment, and before we know it, we’ll just blend in, while doing life ‘their way.’ The enemy will have pounced and completed his job. On this journey together, we have realized how important it is to remain, - daily - in God’s Word. Only be abiding in Him, can we know Him & His will for our day. Oh, the advantages are more than we deserve, to walk with Him, talk with Him, and experience Him - tops anything the world has to offer!
I also looked at the Shepherd (in our home, the Spiritual leader) and the children, (the sheep). What a responsibility we have! To make sure we are teaching and passing down our faith to our sheep – our children. When one goes wayward, we do not stop tending to them. We pray without ceasing. We make that our #1 priority each day.
To Do: Remain in His Word, daily. Anticipate His voice. Experience His power in my day! Humbly, love and tend on those around me, just as He loves and tends on me! Thank you, dear Lord for my home church, and for my pastor who is a blessing from You; his knowledge and love for your Word, spreads to all of the sheep, who come to worship and adore you together.
Karen, loved how you broke it down to the “What: & Why:” will re-read this! Amy, little Andi, is a future teacher in the making! Hugs, everyone ~ Lori
Wendy, God put it on my heart last week to join you in your study each day...I'm excited to be with you "face to face" with your pretty face each day! I love you girl and am honored to call you my friend...I know God smiles at your daily dedication and devotion to teaching His word. See you tomorrow!
Hi figs.
I'm home after spending a wonderful week at Bald Head Island in N.C. I'm at my dad's house and tomorrow I will be going back to my house.
As I read Ezekiel 34:11-29 I thought about how God always takes care of his people and I'm glad to be a sheep of his flock.
When I read chapter 36 the one word that came to my mind is restoration.
Lord, restore the joy of my soul.
I'm happy to report that the vlog is not starting and stopping like it was while I was on vacation. I went back to a vlog from last week and it played without stopping. I guess it was my internet connection.
Good morning all,
Thank you Wendy and Karen for your insights.
Ez.36:25b-27 says,"Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations."
Then God says He will repopulate and rebuild their cities, and replant the fields. The wasteland is like the Garden of Eden.
"Everyone will know I am the Lord,"
He says. Wow! What promises.
Our fields are looking desolate with weeds, but no green grass.
Rain is coming Thursday, so He answers prayers.
Thank you for your prayers for my friend Nancy. Her surgery went fine.We're waiting for further word on treatments.
I'm praying for a hunger for God's Word and a thirsting for His Spirit. Also, for Linda, Sarah, Dixie, and Teeny.
Spreading His love today,
Linda from Ark.
Hi Everyone,
Just came back from a wonderful trip with my family. We were able to experience God's creation in Olympic National Park, Washington. Best of all, Ryan is healthy and strong. He was able to eat everything in site. He gained all his weight back plus more!!! He is 110% better... How great is that!! ....Through this experience...God had changed my husband and I a 180 degree..I learned to appreciate the simpliest things in life. We are waiting on the Lord to see where and what He'll take us to. We are so ready to serve. Everything is given by our merciful loving God.....thank you all.....Allie
Morning, YA'LL
Don't know if this is allowed or not, but through the years I have learned to sometimes do what I want to do(not against God) and then say how sorry I am afterwords. I can imagine that ya'll already knew that about me.
I want to go back to yesterday's reading. I was truely laughting outloud as I read it. Jer, 42:2 The leaders went to Jeremiah and said" Please pray to "YOUR" God for us", Jeremiah said v.4, I will pray to "YOUR" God, v6. ( disgust) all right then, whether we like it or not we will obey the LORD "OUR" God. v9. You sent me to the LORD, the God "of Israel" with your request. 43:1the the message came back to these people by the LORD "their" God AND THE PEOPLE SAID "YOU LIE, THE lORD "OUR" GOD WOULD NOT SAY THAT!!!!! And this LORD loves us anyway. If this were my children I might turn and walk away, slamming the door behind me. But OUR God loves us anyway, and forgives us, never to remember those sins again. How can HE do that. Then He tells them I will bless you now. My anger is spent, and I want to bless you. I will not put up with any one (the other countries) slandering you, my people. I want to be like this God of mine. Kind, forgiving, day after day loving His stupid stiffnecked sheep.
One other thought, I am thinking that there are only women that will be reading this. My mother told be about how they had to wash their "menstrual clothes" so they could reuse them. The thought of that gave new meaning to me about the uncleaness of His people. Ezekiel 36:17
Donna - TX
Hey everyone! It's a beautiful day here in central Texas. I've been enjoying God's creation off my back patio, especially the colorful butterflies! Since Wendy brought up coporate worship, I wanted to bring something up with the group to see if anyone had any insight. I recently retired from Preschool Ministry after 19 years. During that time I seldom made it to worship and when I did my mind was often back in the nursery. Now we - my husband often served with me - are not going to church regularly. I don't feel guilty, just still feeling burned out. How long before I heal? I know I don't want to serve anywhere yet, which some would have me do. Would appreciate prayers. I have always felt close to God and still do. Have a wonderful day.
Linda in Texas
Years ago, my husband and I raised sheep. If you've ever been around them, they are notorious for following the leader. They have been pegged as dumb animals and made fun of.
In today's reading, and all that it implies; I am not ashamed at all to be called a sheep. Following My Leader wherever He goes is a great honor. I cannot go wrong if I do.
Baaaaaahhhh! (that's sheep talk for Praise Him!)
Morgen
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Good morning, GIGs.
I just want to check in. It's the boys' first day of school. I took the older one to the airport this morning and dropped off the other at his on the way home. Then I head back to the airport again in a few hours to pick up DH. I'm still recovering from my dental surgery Friday. It's better today except I miss eating crunchy food.
Karen, what an informative post! I love the research you do for us.
Allie, I'm so glad you checked in. I have been wondering how Ryan is doing because I pray for him every morning along with Baby Claire, Baby Gabriel and other ill babies. It looks like he's not the only one God healed in your family. Praise God!
I was thinking of Jesus our Good Shepherd and remembered something I read:
Roy Gustafson, who has led many parties to Israel, tells in his book "In His Land Seeing is Believing" (p.46) that on one of his visits, on the road down from Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness to Jericho, they met a shepherd carrying one of his sheep with a splint and a bandage on its leg.
Said their guide, who'd lived nearly fifty years in that area, "The shepherd broke that sheep's leg himself."
And it was true! It was explained that this was a sheep that was always wandering off, and in the process leading other sheep astray. Membership in the flock carries certain responsibilities, and much as the shepherd feels a real affection for his animals, discipline is the only thing that will keep them together, as they must be kept together for their well-being and their safety.
So to cure this sheep of its self-willed ways, the shepherd had broken its leg, and then hand fed and carried it till the bone was mended ... and (hopefully) its waywardness.
As I was looking for the reference re the above, I came across this post entitled "The Role of a Shepherd (An Outline study of the 23rd Psalm)" I thought I'd share it in case anyone is interested. This will come in handy when we get to Zechariah and it talks about the not-so-good shepherd that will deceive the flock.
Have a blessed day everyone.
Oops, forgot to post the link on Psalm 23:
http://www.wholeperson-counseling.org/doctrine/role_shepherd.html
That's a great thought to chew on. I want to meet the needs of other's. Somedays, I can barely meet my own.
Good reminder...
Hi Everyone….Thumbing through my husbands workbook for lectors yesterday and looking at some of the readings and reading the commentaries for the readings…I did come across this one for today’s reading. The margin notes of it… to me really help bring it alive and help with understanding. This reading was the Vll reading read at the Easter Vigil….I can see why.
The Regeneration of the People:
Reading Side: Exekiel 36:16-17, 18-28
The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their conduct and deeds. Therefore I poured out my fury upon them because of the blood that they poured out on the ground, and because they defiled it with idols. I scattered them among the nations, dispersing them over foreign lands; according to their conduct and deeds I judged them. But when they came among the nations wherever they came, they served to profane my holy name, because it was said of them: “These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave their land.” So I have relented because of my holy name which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they came. Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: Not for your sake do I act, house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name,
which you profaned among the nations to which you came. I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it. Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, Says the Lord GOD, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.
Margin Notes:
“Their land” is their own land. Ezekiel’s tone is blunt…. “Fury,” “scattered,” “dispersing,” “judged,” and “profane” are all strong words that convey God’s wrath.
“Because of the blood…”refers to worshipping false idols.
The exile is God’s punishment for Israel’s infidelity.
But the punishment “backfired” because it gave God a bad name.
Frustrated, God reluctantly adopts a new approach. Note that the words “profaned among the nations” are repeated three times.
God must restore his “good name” (Karen His Good Name) Loved what you gave us this morning.
God’s anger slowly yields to mercy and love. Meant as a promise.
continued....
This comment has been removed by the author.
The commentary for the reading:
The just punishment God has levied against the unfaithful “house of Israel” is having a negative impact on God’s reputation. Foreigners among whom Israel was dispersed are questioning God’s fidelity to the covenant. This is an embarrassment to God who decides, for the sake “sake of my holy name,” to relent and start new with these stubborn children, despite their unworthiness. Such anthropomorphism should not surprise us, for scripture regularly ascribes human attributes to God.
Except for the first line, it is exclusively God’s voice heard throughout the reading. God’s voice if full of justifiable anger because the people have “defiled” the land by worshipping idols. Exile was the consequence, but the promise of forgiveness and return are clearly heard in this reading.
Halfway through the text, God orders the prophet to announce a shift in policy. “I have relented,” God says. But at the same time God insists “Not for your sakes do I act.” The exile made it look like God didn’t keep the promise to be Israel’s God and protector; so now God must act to restore the divine reputation. But we quickly sense that God’s mercy and love overwhelm the call of justice. God will purify the people and give the them new hearts….made of flesh, not stone. Love triumphs. We knew it would. God always takes the initiative. By the time we hear the tender “you will be my people and I will be your God” we know God has not only saved a “name,” but a people who will be empowered to keep God’s statures back home” in the land of [their] fathers.”
Karen really appriciated what you brought to us today. That was so good.
Allie Thanks so much for the wonderful report on Ryan...WOW!!WOW!!WOW!!...Totally Awesome.
Linda in TX...Will be praying for you...Hang in there. the healing will come for your restoration all in his timing. (I just feel burned out)...Take the time you need to be replenished.
Morgan...Baaaaaahhhhh!! Praising Him...You and Dixie "love Yhea!!"
Rhonda
This comment has been removed by the author.
Post a Comment
Home