Old Testament # 43
“The Shepherds of Israel”
Ezekiel 18; 34; 37
Introduction
Ezekiel was part of the Babylonian captivity and is a prophet to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. While Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem, Daniel was in the Babylonian court, but Ezekiel was among the general populace.
Before we get into the lesson chapters themselves, I wanted to include a couple of images of Ezekiel’s visions. I am concentrating on older depictions. The first one is a woodcut from The “Bear” Bible of the vision of the chariot in Ezekiel 1.
Second the “Valley of Dry Bones” by John Stanhope from Ezekiel 37:1–14
There are many more, but I will content myself with these two.
Ezekiel 18
We talked a few weeks ago about the scarlet on the skirts of Lord’s garment when he comes again representing the blood of the wicked, in contrast to the stains he received in the Garden of Gethsemane which were likened to the winepress he trod alone. Ezekiel 18 talks about this judgment and destruction of the wicked in graphic detail, especially when oppressed by an offspring or a parent, but the last few verses hold out the balm of Gilead with the gift of repentance, because “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:32).
Ezekiel 18 also talks about a “new heart,” (v. 31) Hopefully you have had time this week to contemplate what it means to write His name on your heart. This verse brings in the thought that if and when the Lord’s name is written on our heart, it will effectively be renewed. We will start to see and feel about people as He does. I am reminded of what Robert Gay said about his sister in the last General Conference:
On the evening of her passing, in a room with her children present, I gave her a blessing to peacefully return home. At that moment I realized I had too often defined my sister’s life in terms of her trials and inactivity. As I placed my hands on her head that evening, I received a severe rebuke from the Spirit. I was made acutely aware of her goodness and allowed to see her as God saw her—not as someone who struggled with the gospel and life but as someone who had to deal with difficult issues I did not have. I saw her as a magnificent mother who, despite great obstacles, had raised four beautiful, amazing children. I saw her as the friend to our mother who took time to watch over and be a companion to her after our father passed away. During that final evening with my sister, I believe God was asking me, “Can’t you see that everyone around you is a sacred being?”[1]
Ezekiel 37
One of the enduring images in Ezekiel for those of us who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that of the stick of Joseph and the stick of Judah. However, when thinking about this, I couldn’t help comparing it with Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. The widow had a couple of sticks and some flour and oil to make a last meal before dying. We have the stick of Joseph and the stick of Judah—and although members of the Church were criticized in the past for interpreting Ezekiel’s sticks as scripture, specifically the Book of Mormon and the Bible, Keith Meservy tells us:
Ezekiel’s symbolism consisted of identifying two writing boards with Judah’s and Joseph’s records, which, in the context of the gathering of Israel, are joined together. He could hardly have found a simpler, more vivid symbol of the gathering of Israel than unification of separate tribal records. . . . Archeological discoveries since Joseph Smith’s time support his interpretation of Ezekiel’s “sticks” as wooden tablets which are joined together as one book.[2]
So, in my mind anyway, as the sticksin Ezekiel and those in the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath are the same word in Hebrew, I link the two as being the means of salvation—in a micro sense for the woman and her son, and in a macro sense for all mankind! Sorry if that was somewhat belabored, but in my mind, at least, it was important.
Ezekiel 34
We talked last week about watchmen, in terms of all of us members of the Church, but also specifically about our Prophet as The Watchman. In Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel himself is set as a watchman and in chapter 33:7, that call is renewed. But just as a watchman who sleeps on the job is of no use, shepherds who do not tend their sheep are vilified in Ezekiel 34. As Sister Black told us in Sunday School, the Lord’s focus is constantly on us, and therefore we, as His shepherds, should be focusing on His sheep. I think we covered that pretty well last Sunday, but I wanted to include this quote on what it means to be a shepherd, from the self-professed German Shepherd himself, Elder Uchtdorf.
This is the kind of gospel culture we desire to cultivate throughout the Church of Jesus Christ. We seek to strengthen the Church as a place where we forgive one another. Where we resist the temptation to find fault, gossip, and bring others down. Where, instead of pointing out flaws, we lift up and help each other to become the best we can be. . . . I testify and leave you my blessing that as we believe in God, as we love Him and love His children with all our hearts, and as we strive to do as God has instructed us, we will find healing and peace, happiness and meaning. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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