Lazy Shepherds

I've been reading in the book of Ezekiel lately. It's incredibly depressing. The prophet Ezekiel is used by God to pronounced judgment on the Israelites. It's prophecy after prophecy against different groups of people because they have forsaken God. Every once in a while imbedded in the destruction narrative are words of hope. God says he will punish them for their sins, but affirms that they are still his people and he will not abandon them forever. Today I read about the Shepherds of Israel . God accuses the shepherds of being selfish, feeding themselves and letting their sheep die. They have not watched over the sheep, they have not sought the ones that haves strayed. God says, So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. God is angry and heartbroken because those he loves have been neglected. God then says something cool:

Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness...I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

God says that he will lead his sheep to a place of blessing and protection. He will send down the showers in their season and the showers will be blessings.

I think by now the analogy is clear. God is not talking about sheep. To make it clear, he says, And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God. 

This story is seeping with meaning and symbolism. God is our shepherd and leader. He guides us and blesses us even when leaders neglect us. We know the church is corrupt (it's such a beautiful disaster) - thankfully God does not abandon his people.

As a person in ministry, I must also put myself in the place of the shepherds. Do I care for God's sheep as he has called me to? I am challenged to evaluate the status of my 'sheep'. I do not want to leave the people God has entrusted to me out in the wilderness; we are called to seek them out.