And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
Ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men - not merely an explanation of the image, as Jerome represents; but as God had promised many things which mere "men" could not expect to realize, He shows that it is not from man's might their realization is to be looked for, but from GOD, who would perform them for His covenant-people, "His flock" (Rosenmuller). When we realize most our weakness, and God's power and faithfulness to His covenant, we are in the fittest state for receiving His blessings. But if the Jews themselves were to be the "plant of renown," how could the expression be appropriate, "I will raise up for them a plant of renown"? (i:e., themselves.) Menochius makes the "plant of renown" to mean 'a renowned name among all nations.' But "I will raise up for them" is the regular phrase used for the Father raising up Jesus to be a Saviour for men (cf. note, Ezekiel 34:23). The very same Hebrew verb is in both verses х wahªqimotiy (H6965)].
Remarks:
(1) The removal of the false rulers who have ruled for their own selfish aggrandizement, not for the glory of God, or the real good of their subjects, is to precede the setting up of the coming king, who is to rule in love and righteousness, Messiah the good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34:2; Ezekiel 34:23). The Lord Jesus provides for the eternal well being of His own flock, both the elect remnant of the literal Israel, and also the spiritual Israel the Church, infinitely better than the best of earthly shepherds ever cared for his sheep. But the false shepherds of Israel in Ezekiel's days cared only for themselves, and for their own grovelling aims, selfish gain, and worldly pre-eminence, like Diotrephes in ages long subsequent (3 John 1:9), and not for the best interests of the flock (Ezekiel 34:3). Spiritual pastors should "feed the flock of God, not for filthy lucre, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2-3).
(2) Moreover, it is not enough that pastors should do no harm to those committed to their charge, but God will hold them accountable if they do not "strengthen the spiritually diseased, heal the sick, bind up the broken (in heart), bring again those driven away, and seek the lost" (Ezekiel 34:4). The rulers of Israel failed in all these respects toward those under them, and added positive "force and cruelty" to their omissions of duty. The result was, the people of God "were scattered, because there was no (true) shepherd" to tend them aright, none to "search or seek after them." A timely spiritual reformation of the state by its rulers would have averted the judgments of God altogether; and even in Ezekiel's time, when wrath from God had already descended, faithful conduct on their part would have been followed by a mitigation of this punishment, and a restoration of the "scattered" exiles (Ezekiel 34:6).
(3) The consequences to the unfaithful shepherds of their negligence, God declares to be (Ezekiel 34:10), "Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore." Those who abuse any solemn trust must answer for it to God, and shall be deprived of the power of selfish misrule forever. It will be among the most bitter of the self-reproaches of many among the lost, to think that once they were in high places of trust, by faithfulness in which they might have inherited an eminent crown of glory; but by unfaithfulness and self-seeking they have precipitated themselves into the lowest and most terrible of the depths of hell.
(4) When the wicked shepherds are destroyed, the Lord Himself comes forward as the good Shepherd, Himself to interpose in behalf of His: "Behold, I, even I," the all-powerful, the all-wise, the all-loving God of my people, "will both search my sheep, and seek them out" (Ezekiel 34:11). That office which the unfaithful shepherds failed to perform, I myself will effectually fulfill in behalf of my flock. The Lord Jesus at His second coming shall stand "in the midst" of His people as their glory and their defense (note Ezekiel 34:12). He will "seek out and deliver the Israelites out of all places where, in the cloudy and dark day, they have been scattered (Ezekiel 34:12) ... and will bring them to their own land," where he shall "feed them, and cause them to lie down" in perfect ease and security (Ezekiel 34:15). In beautiful contrast to the culpable negligence and selfish cruelty and rapacity of the unfaithful shepherds, the Lord promises to "seek the lost, bring again those driven away, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick;" but those fattened and puffed up with pride through prosperity, who abuse their strength to oppress the weak "with force and with cruelty" (Ezekiel 34:4), God "will destroy" while He rules His people in justice and mercy.
(5) However God may seem now to make no difference between the oppressors and the oppressed, the wicked and the righteous, the time is fast coming when the Lord shall come as Judge of all men, to make a momentous and everlasting distinction between the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left (Ezekiel 34:17; Matthew 25:32-33). Then shall he call to strictest account the haughty great men who, not content with appropriating the goods of others, actually spoiled through gratuitous wantonness what they did not use, so as to render them useless to the rightful owners (Ezekiel 34:18-19). No wrong shall then remain unredressed. The Lord will vindicate His own righteousness in avenging the cause of His despised people on their proud oppressors (Ezekiel 34:20-22).
(6) The great instrument and willing "servant" in the hands of God for effecting this His sure purpose is the "One Shepherd," peerless and matchless in excellence and dignity, the Divine Messiah, "raised up to David" (Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 34:29), that He should once for all die for His people's sins, and forever reign, at His second coming, as their glorified Prince in the midst of them (Ezekiel 34:24). Then shall His people dwell in undisturbed peace and safety throughout their land, unmolested by man or beast (Ezekiel 34:25), and "showers of blessing" from above shall come down upon them and their land, so that they shall be a source of blessing to the nations around (Ezekiel 34:26). Internal righteousness and external prosperity shall go hand in hand (Ezekiel 34:27-28). The bondage (Ezekiel 34:27) and "shame" which they were forced by the pagan to submit to formerly (Ezekiel 34:29) shall then come to a perpetual end. Exemption from hunger and reproach shall be their happy portion henceforth.
(7) All these blessings flow from Jesus, Immanuel, "the Lord their God with them" (Ezekiel 34:30). For the Israelites are but "men," weak in themselves (Ezekiel 34:31), and most unlikely objects of such wonderful blessing. But God hath promised these blessings, as being their covenant God; and because of that His unchangeable promise, Messiah, the "plant of renown" (Ezekiel 34:29), shall be "raised up for them," as their Deliverer in the last days (Romans 11:26).
(8) All these promises belong also to us, if we be true believers in Chest. Then we can say, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." When we were 'wandering' on the mountains of error (Ezekiel 34:6), Jesus sought us, and brought us safely into the fold (Ezekiel 34:11). He feeds us in the green pastures of His ordinances now. "He leads us in the paths of righteousness," and makes us to lie down at rest, reposing on His love (Ezekiel 34:15); and will at last bring us to the heavenly land of promise, where we shall hunger no more, and that no morel (Ezekiel 34:29), and our shame shall be turned into everlasting glory. Therefore, throughout eternity we shall praise the divine grace of God in Christ, which pitied us in our lost estate, and so marvelously led us the right way until we reached the heavenly city of habitation (Psalms 107:7).