Ezekiel 34:26

24 And ^aI, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David ^ba prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

25 ^a“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and ^bcause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they ^cwill dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.

26 I will make them and the places all around ^aMy hill ^ba blessing; and I will ^ccause showers to come down in their season; there shall be ^dshowers of blessing.

27 Then ^athe trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have ^bbroken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who ^censlaved them.

28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but ^athey shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.

29 I will raise up for them a ^agarden of renown, and they shall ^bno longer be consumed with hunger in the land, ^cnor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

<< Ezekiel 34:25

Ezekiel 34:27 >>

What Does Ezekiel 34:26 Mean?

Ezekiel 34:1-31

Ezekiel condemns the ministry as a whole for being more concerned for self and paycheck than for the "sheep," the members of the church. Rather than helping, healing, and leading, government was often administered with force and cruelty. Talking the talk was followed far more frequently than walking the walk. God also charges them with defiling the doctrine, which verse 18 pictures as trodden pasture and fouled water. Paul, James, Peter, John, and Jude all warn about "wolves" at the end time infiltrating the flock, introducing another gospel, and rending the sheep.

Is it any wonder respect for the ministry is at low ebb? God Himself is very upset with shepherds who cared more for themselves than for the sheep. Through misuse and abuse, wolves in sheep's clothing ripped and tore the sheep. God and man deplore and reject such a ministry. The ministry today is in sad disarray, distrusted and despised by many. Some ministers are reckoned as hirelings who cared not for the sheep, but only for their paychecks. These men would compromise the truth, even teach what they knew was wrong, to retain their salaries. Zechariah 11:3 describes a forsaken ministry, howling over the loss of their flocks, which they mistreated.

Screaming for "respect for the ministry" will not help. These hurts can only be healed by proper example and time, combined with a forgiving heart, established by God, in those who have been harmed.

Because of these abuses, insidious Laodiceanism, and our natural proclivity to resent any government except our own, we have a church despised and blown apart by God Himself. (Read all of Lamentations, Ezekiel 22:25-29; and 24:21 to confirm who is behind the separation.)

John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)
For the Perfecting of the Saints

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Ezekiel 34:26:

Mark 14:24

<< Ezekiel 34:25

Ezekiel 34:27 >>

Join 137,200+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

What Does Ezekiel 34:26 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning