Ezekiel 34

Ezekiel 34

And the Word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 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? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 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. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 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.

Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the Word of the Lord; 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; therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the Word of the Lord; 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.

For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep, and seek them out. 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. 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. 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. I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. 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. 

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. 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? 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. 

Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; therefore will I save My flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. 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. And I the Lord will be their God, and My Servant David a Prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.

Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

John 10:11
I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His Life for the sheep.

I Peter 5:1-11 
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the Faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20,21 
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

--

Romans 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

I Peter 5:11 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Evening devotional

Hear this evening's devotional [Prepared by Jonathan Bagster (1813-1872)]

07.08 Evening:

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with Thee?

Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. . . .Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.―An High Priest . . . holy, harmless, undefiled.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.―The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

Whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Ps 94:20 1Jo 1:3 3:2,3 Joh 14:30 Heb 7:26 Eph 6:12 2:2 1Jo 5:18,19

Here it is again with the full verses and references

07.08 Evening:

(Psalm 94:20)Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with Thee, which frameth mischief by a law?

(I John 1:3)That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. . . .(I John 3:2,3)Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

(John 14:30)Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.--(Hebrews 7:26)For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the Heavens;

(Ephesians 6:12)For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.--(Ephesians 2:2)Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

(I John 5:18,19)We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Ps 94:20 1Jo 1:3 3:2,3 Joh 14:30 Heb 7:26 Eph 6:12 2:2 1Jo 5:18,19


--
Romans 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
I Peter 5:11 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The LORD is gracious

The Lord is gracious,
and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
(Psalm 145:8)

The Word for the YEAR--
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


The Word for the month--
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.


The Word for the day--
I Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.


Compare Spiritual with Spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:12-14; John 5:39)--

"And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want [cp."come short" Rom 3:23].

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, Who is our Life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.

I John 2:28,29 And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If ye know that He is Righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.

I John 3:2,3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

Proverbs 4:9 She [Wisdom cp. 4:7] shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Isaiah 28:5,6 In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of His people, and for a Spirit of Judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for Strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

Isaiah 62:1-4 For Zion's sake will I not hold My Peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the Righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see Thy Righteousness, and all kings Thy glory: and Thou shalt be called by a New Name [cp. Rev 3:12], which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken [cp.Mk 15:34]; neither shall Thy land any more be termed Desolate: but Thou shalt be called Hephzi–bah, and Thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in Thee [cp. Mal 3:4], and Thy land shall be married.

I Peter 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Proverbs 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.


Again, the Word for the day--I Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.



Hear this morning's devotional [Prepared by Jonathan Bagster (1813-1872)]

07.08 Morning:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.―I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.―Your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake.―God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.―That He might be Just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean.―They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.

This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.

1Jo 1:9 Ps 51:3,4 Lu 15:20 Isa 44:22 1Jo 2:12 Eph 4:32 Ro 3:26 Eze 36:25 Re 3:4 1Jo 5:6

Here it is again with the full verses and references

07.08 Morning:


(I John 1:9)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(Psalm 51:3,4)For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest.

(Luke 15:20)And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.--(Isaiah 44:22)I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.--(I John 2:12)I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake.--(Ephesians 4:32)And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.--(Romans 3:26)To declare, I say, at this time His Righteousness: that He might be Just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

(Ezekiel 36:25)Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.--(Revelation 3:4)Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.

(I John 5:6)This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth Witness, because the Spirit is Truth.


1Jo 1:9 Ps 51:3,4 Lu 15:20 Isa 44:22 1Jo 2:12 Eph 4:32 Ro 3:26 Eze 36:25 Re 3:4 1Jo 5:6


I Timothy 4:15,16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.



Psalm 72:17-19 His Name shall endure for ever: His Name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His Glorious Name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen.

Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

--
Romans 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
I Peter 5:11 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.