In Ezekiel 34 the prophet Ezekiel is told to prophesy “against the shepherds…Tell them, the shepherds, that Adonai Elohim [the Lord God] says this: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep?” (Ezekiel 34:2, Complete Jewish Bible) This is a pretty severe indictment against the shepherds, accusing them of taking care of themselves rather than taking care of the sheep. “You don’t strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bandage the broken, bring back the outcasts or seek the lost; on the contrary, you tyrannize them with crushing force. So they were scattered, without a shepherd, and became food for every wild animal – they were scattered.” (Ezekiel 34:4-5, Complete Jewish Bible)
Ezekiel then reports what God said he will do: “Adonai Elohim says, “I am against the shepherds. I demand that they hand my sheep back to me. I will not allow them to feed the sheep, and they won’t feed themselves either. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will be food for them no longer.”
“For here is what Adonai Elohim says: “I am taking over! I will search for my sheep and look after them, myself. Just as a shepherd looks after his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.”” ““Yes, I will pasture my sheep; and I will let them rest” says Adonai Elohim. “I will seek the lost, bring back the outcasts, bandage the broken, and strengthen the sick…”” (Ezekiel 34:10-12, 15-16, Complete Jewish Bible)
Wow! What a statement! God is resolute in bringing the lost and broken sheep to a place of rest. We find a similar declaration in Psalms 23 – a very familiar verse: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalms 23:2, King James Version) Therein lies the important message: God wants to allow for healing of the broken, lost, outcast and sick. He does this by seeking out those who are hurting and bringing them to a place of rest.
Sometimes in this harried world it’s difficult to take the time to rest and heal. It’s clear that is what God wants for us, although we cite obligations and other constraints that keep us from realizing true healing. When we don’t listen to God telling us to ‘lie down’ and ‘rest’ we end up becoming walking wounded. Christ, our shepherd, has gone out of His way to bring us to a place of rest and healing with the purpose of “restoring our souls and leading us in the paths of righteousness” (Psalms 23:3). When we do not allow God to heal our broken hearts and lives we will continue to merely cope with our wounds and soldier on. God wants so much more for you. Lie down! And let His healing, living water and peace wash over you until your soul is restored. He loves you that much.