The Promise Of The Shepherd/King
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
12/16/2012 PM
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Text:
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Ezekiel 34:23-31
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Psalters: |
297, 241, 220, 53 |
- Who He is.
- After declaring that He, Lord Jehovah, will be a shepherd (11ff.), He promises a royal shepherd.
- Such a king was very different from the kings of other nations who had the people serve them.
- Israel?s kings were ?servants of God? (23,24) who serve Him by serving His people.
- This begins with the promise to set up one shepherd over them, ?even my servant, David? (23).
- David was the first in this line, with the Messiah coming as the Son of David, fulfilling David the type.
- David was the best picture of a shepherd king, having qualities the Messiah possessed perfectly.
- This promise is obviously fulfilled in Jesus, the Shepherd King (John 10:11,14).
- The rule of this promised Shepherd is one of grace, not based conditionally on works.
- When He establishes a covenant with the flock (25), it is obviously of grace.
- The salvation of God?s flock comes in the way of God making a covenant with them in this Shepherd.
- This covenant is a relationship of love and friendship between God and the people of His pasture (31).
- As a ?covenant of peace? it is a rule of grace (25).
- This peace is the forgiveness which removes the cause of their distress.
- When speaks of ?one Shepherd? it is implied that the two divided kingdoms are united, though scattered (12).
- Important to the Shepherd/King?s rule is that He provides good under-shepherds.
- And He blesses with refreshing showers of blessing (26).