The shepherds (kings) of Israel had failed at compassion and justice so God said that He would intervene and be the people’s Shepherd (Ezekiel 34). From David, the shepherd-king, would come another Shepherd-King (vv. 23-24) who would feed the people. In this Advent season, may we remember that the Messiah is our Shepherd. He will not fail at compassion and justice. He will feed His sheep and gather them in His arms. He will anoint them with oil and bind up their wounds. Come near to your Shepherd-King.
“I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” Ezekiel 34:22-23 (NRSV)
From “The Master’s Table” by H. Lamar Smith
