The
Shepherds of Israel
Lesson 43 – Ezekiel
18; 34; 37
Introduction
How is a shepherd different from a sheepherder? That question is answered by President Ezra
Taft Benson: “In Jesus’ time, the
Palestinian shepherd was noted for his protection of his sheep. Unlike modern
sheepherders, the shepherd always walked ahead of his flock. He led them. The
shepherd knew each of the sheep and usually had a name for each. The sheep knew
his voice and trusted him and would not follow a stranger. Thus, when called, the
sheep would come to him. (See John 10:14, John 10:16.) At night
shepherds would bring their sheep to a corral called a sheepfold. High walls
surrounded the sheepfold, and thorns were placed on top of these walls to
prevent wild animals and thieves from climbing over. Sometimes, however, a wild animal
driven by hunger would leap over the walls into the midst of the sheep,
frightening them. Such a situation separated the true shepherd—one who loved
his sheep—from the hireling—one who worked only for pay and duty. The true shepherd was willing to give his
life for the sheep. He would go in amongst the sheep and fight for their
welfare. The hireling, on the other hand, valued his own personal safety above
the sheep and would usually flee from the danger”
(Ensign, May 1983, 43).
The shepherd walks ahead of the sheep and leads
them; the quotation implies that the sheepherder walks behind the sheep and
drives them. Part of this lesson
discusses our responsibilities as spiritual shepherds.
Background: In 597 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon carried into captivity many people from the kingdom of Judah. Among
these captives was Ezekiel, whom the Lord called as a prophet five years later.
In 587 B.C. the
Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and took many more captives. Ezekiel ministered
to his exiled people until 570 B.C. Ezekiel’s writings
include stern rebukes and glorious promises that apply to the ancient kingdom
of Judah, all Israel, and Church members today. Although Jerusalem had
been destroyed, Ezekiel foresaw a day when Israel would be gathered and
restored. This event is symbolized in his vision of the valley of dry bones and
his prophecy about the sticks of Judah and Joseph.
In Ezekiel 34 the Lord reproved
the self-serving shepherds of Israel who had not fed the flock. He then
described himself as the Good Shepherd who would gather his flock in the latter
days and lead them during the Millennium.
The “shepherds of Israel” spoken of in Ezekiel 34 are the
religious leaders of Ezekiel’s day.
Ezekiel 34:2-6
- The Lord was displeased with the religgious leaders who cared for their own
needs while neglecting the sheep who then were scattered and became the prey of
predatory beasts.
Each of us can be considered a shepherd of
Israel because we are to watch over and strengthen each other as family
members, Church members, neighbors, home and visiting teachers, and members of
quorums and classes. Elder Bruce R.
McConkie said: “Anyone serving in any capacity in the Church in which he is responsible
for the spiritual or temporal well-being of any of the Lord’s children is a
shepherd to those sheep. The Lord holds his shepherds accountable for the
safety (salvation) of his sheep” (Mormon
Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 710).
Ezekiel 34:11-16
- True shepherds search for, seek outt, deliver from, gather, feed, bind up,
and strengthen their sheep.
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “We call on you to extend yourselves
with renewed dedication. … We want you to watch, to feed, to tend, and to care
for the flock and, in the event that some are temporarily lost, we challenge
you to find them” (Ensign, May 1983, 45). Of course, the Savior
is our example as the Good Shepherd.
Ezekiel 18:21-22,
27-28
- Repentance and forgiveness are availabble if we turn from our sins.
Ezekiel 18:31
– When we truly repent we “make … a new heart and a new spirit”. It is important to understand that repentance
includes both turning away from sin and having a complete change of heart.
Ezekiel 18:24,
26 - People
who turn away from righteousness and do not repent will die unforgiven.
Ezekiel 18:23,
32.
- When he punishes the wicked, the Lord takes no pleasure in it.
Ezekiel 18:25,
29-32 -
In the Lord’s justice and mercy, all are equally judged on their ways
(choices).
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of bones
symbolizes both the Resurrection and the restoration of the children of Israel
to their promised land.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
- The Resurrection was symbolized in Ezeekiel’s vision as the bones came
together, were covered with flesh and skin, and were given life. The
restoration of the children of Israel to their promised land is symbolized in
Ezekiel’s vision as the Resurrection is used to symbolize the restoration.
Ezekiel’s vision can also be read as an analogy
describing the renewal of the “hope” of Israel (Ezekiel 37:11).
Although Israel’s hope may be as dead as the “great army” of bones that Ezekiel
saw, the Savior can bring it back to vitality and life.
The bones in Ezekiel’s vision began to take life
after Ezekiel told them to “hear the word of the Lord”
(Ezekiel
37:4). The word of the
Lord gives us life.
Ezekiel’s prophecy of the sticks of Judah and
Joseph has a dual meaning. It refers to the latter-day combining of the
scriptural records of Judah and Joseph (Israel). It also refers to the
latter-day reunion of the kingdoms of Judah and Joseph (Israel).
The prophecy in Ezekiel 37:15-20 has been
fulfilled. The word stick in
these verses refers to a type of wooden writing tablet commonly used in
Ezekiel’s day. The stick of Judah symbolizes the Bible, and the stick of Joseph
symbolizes the Book of Mormon.
Elder Boyd K. Packer said: “The stick or
record of Judah—the Old Testament and the New Testament—and the stick or record
of Ephraim—the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ—are
now woven together in such a way that as you pore over one you are drawn to the
other; as you learn from one you are enlightened by the other. They are indeed
one in our hands. Ezekiel’s prophecy now stands fulfilled”
(Ensign, Nov. 1982, 53).
Ezekiel said that after the two sticks were put
together:
Ezekiel 37:26-28 -
Other blessings the Lord promised included one very important blessing—the
restoration of the Lord’s sanctuary or tabernacle, meaning the temple.
President James E. Faust: “When I was a very small
boy, my father found a lamb all alone out in the desert. The herd of sheep to
which its mother belonged had moved on, and somehow the lamb got separated from
its mother, and the shepherd must not have known that it was lost. Because it
could not survive alone in the desert, my father picked it up and brought it
home. To have left the lamb there would have meant certain death, either by
falling prey to the coyotes or by starvation because it was so young that it
still needed milk. … My father gave the lamb to me, and I became its shepherd. For several weeks I warmed cow’s milk in a
baby’s bottle and fed the lamb. We became fast friends. … It began to grow. My
lamb and I would play on the lawn. Sometimes we would lie together on the grass
and I would lay my head on its soft, woolly side and look up at the blue sky
and the white billowing clouds. I did not lock my lamb up during the day. It
would not run away. It soon learned to eat grass. I could call my lamb from
anywhere in the yard by just imitating as best I could the bleating sound of a
sheep. … One night there came a terrible storm. I
forgot to put my lamb in the barn that night as I should have done. I went to
bed. My little friend was frightened in the storm, and I could hear it
bleating. I knew that I should help my pet, but I wanted to stay safe, warm,
and dry in my bed. I didn’t get up as I should have done. The next morning I
went out to find my lamb dead. A dog had also heard its bleating cry and killed
it. My heart was broken. I had not been a good shepherd or steward of that
which my father had entrusted to me. My father said, ‘Son, couldn’t I trust you
to take care of just one lamb?’ My father’s remark hurt me more than losing my
woolly friend. I resolved that day, as a little boy, that I would try never
again to neglect my stewardship as a shepherd if I were ever placed in that
position again. Not too many years
thereafter I was called as a junior companion to a home teacher. There were
times when it was so cold or stormy and I wanted to stay home and be
comfortable, but in my mind’s ear I could hear my little lamb bleating, and I
knew I needed to be a good shepherd and go with my senior companion. In all
those many years, whenever I have had a desire to shirk my duties, there would
come to me a remembrance of how sorry I was that night so many years ago when I
had not been a good shepherd” (Ensign,
May 1995, 46).
Ezekiel’s teachings help us understand how much
the Savior loves and cares for each of us. He is our Shepherd. He is eager to
forgive. He made it possible for us to be resurrected. He is directing the
latter-day gathering of Israel. And he brought forth the Book of Mormon as
another witness of him.
These
lessons are posted on the Internet at http://www.geocities.com/jeninstitute/