Question: Dear Greg,

Can you please help me understand Ezekiel 34:15? I don’t understand why the sleek, or healthy sheep will be killed. Thank you for your faithfulness and patience.

In Christ,

Dave

Answer: Dear Dave,

This chapter speaks of shepherd leadership, providing background, along with other familiar Old Testament passages such as Psalms 23, to the ministry of Jesus, the Chief Shepherd of our souls. The chapter begins with God’s word against irresponsible human shepherds of the flock – who, instead of feeding the flock, feed themselves, "fleecing" the flock. Vs. 3, "You eat the fat and clothe yourself with wool, you slaughter fatlings,….."

Later in the chapter God inspired Ezekiel to contrast the human shepherd with the true divine Shepherd – the Lord – and verse 16 does this, "I will seek that which was lost (like the parable of Luke 15:11) and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; [note the semi-colon – independent clause coming]. "BUT" [contrast coming], "I will destroy the fat and the strong" [here not speaking of the flock, but of those who are fat and strong at the expense of the flock, those whom the Lord is healing, restoring in the first part of the verse.

Hope this helps,

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht