The good shephered 선하신 목자

 Ezekiel34:1-16

34 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? ³ You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. ⁴ The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. ⁵ So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; ⁶ they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.
⁷ “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ⁸ As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, ⁹ therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ¹⁰ Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
¹¹ “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. ¹² 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. ¹³ And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. ¹⁴ I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. ¹⁶ 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.^[a] I will feed them in justice.


Thinking and understanding

God reprimanded the shepherds of Israel, pointing out that their wickedness was the reason behind the suffering and scattering of the Israelites. Though shepherds are responsible for looking after, feeding and protecting their sheep, the shepherds of Israel did not look after their sheep and were concerned only with reaping their own profit. In response to this, God proclaimed that he would punish the false and wicked shepherd of his seep. Then, he would gather the scattered flock, make them lie down in good pastures, and feed them. 

이스라엘이 당한 수난과 흩어짐이 이스라엘 목자들(지도자들)의 악함 때문임을 지적하고 문책하십니다. 목자에게는 양을 돌보고 먹이며 보호해야 할 책임이 있는데도 그들은 양 떼를 돌보지 않고 자신들의 이익을 취하는 데만 급급했습니다. 이에 하나님은 거짓되고 악한 지도자들을 벌하시고 자신이 직접 양들의 목자가 되겠다고 선언하십니다. 그리고 흩어진 양 떼를 다시 모아서 좋은 곳에 누이시고 먹이실 것입니다.


 Who is God?

vv. 11-16 God, as our shepherd, personally seeks us out and saves us. God also heals our wounds, gives us good pasture, and makes it possible for us to rest peacefully. The salvation, restoration, guidance, protection, provisions and rest that are essential to sheep lie with the true shepherd. This is the abundance of salvation that was fulfilled in, and can be enjoyed in, the 'one shepherd' appointed by God. 

친히 우리의 목자가 되어 우리를 찾으시고 구원하십니다. 또한 상처를 치유하고 좋은 꼴을 먹이고 평안히 쉴 수 있게 하십니다. 양떼에게 절대적으로 필요한 구원과 회복, 인도와 보호, 공급과 쉼이 참 목자 안에 있습니다. 이것은 하나님이 세우신 ' 한 목자' 안에서 성취되고 누릴 수 있는 구원의 풍성함입니다.


 What lesson is God teaching us?

vv. 2-6 As workers, teachers and leaders in the church, are we faithfully fulfilling our role as 'shepherd'? Who must we give our attention to and care for today with the heart of Jesus, the 'good shepherd'?

우리는 교회의 직분자로서, 지도자로서,목자의 역할에 충실합니까? 선한 목자이신 예수님의 마음을 본받아, 오늘 내가 관심을 갖고 돌보아야 할 지체는 누구입니까?