Tuning In

I don’t know if this is true in every marriage, but for some reason I have a tendency to tune out everything around me and concentrate on my own thoughts. This is especially frustrating to my wife, Martie, when she is talking to me about something important. When she notices the distant look in my eyes, she often says, “Have you heard anything I’ve said?”

Listening is an important part of any relationship, especially in our relationship with Christ. If we belong to Him, we have the privilege of communing with Him through His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We know we are paying attention to the true Shepherd when His voice leads us to righteousness, love, grace, and all that is consistent with His character and will. As Jesus made clear when He identified Himself as the “good Shepherd” in John 10, those who diligently listen to Him become devoted followers of Him (v.4) who are becoming transformed into His likeness.

Just as listening attentively to your spouse or a friend communicates value and worth, paying close attention to the voice of Jesus is one way to affirm His importance in your life. So, let’s cast aside the distractions of life, tune in to His voice, and pray for the grace to do what He says.

I would be prayerful through each busy moment; I would be constantly in touch with God; I would be tuned to hear His slightest whisper; I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod. —Walter

Listening to Jesus is the first step to following Him.

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Who Would Want to Be God’s Sheep? by Mark D Roberts

Ezekiel 34:17-31

You are my flock, the flock of my pasture. You are human, and I am your God. This is what the LORD God says.

Ezekiel 34:31

The final verse of Ezekiel 34 adds an unexpected comment. It begins by reiterating the metaphor of God as Israel‘s shepherd: “You are my flock, the flock of my pasture” (34:31). But then it adds, unexpectedly, “You are human, and I am your God.” The original Hebrew of this verse includes the word adam, which means “human” or “humankind.” It’s as if Ezekiel wants us to know that we are not actually sheep, but human beings who are like sheep.

Over the years, I have heard people object to the shepherd-sheep metaphor as insulting. “Sheep are really stupid,” they claim. “Who would want to be God’s sheep?” My answer is an enthusiastic: “I would!” Yes, I suppose that in some ways I’m not as dull as a sheep. But, with all of my superior intelligence, I can actually get into a lot more trouble than a sheep. And I can cause a lot more trouble for others.

I’m not insulted by the fact that God pictures himself as my good shepherd. In fact, I’m greatly relieved. I spend so much of my life in charge of things. I always feel responsible, even for that which is really not my business. In much of my life, I’m expected to be the one who solves problems and comes up with answers. Mostly, I’m honored to play this role. But, every now and then, the responsibility placed on me is a heavy burden. Moreover, I am all too aware of how much I do not know, how easily I can mess things up. So the fact that, in relationship with God, I can be a dense sheep is really rather reassuring to me. How glad I am that I have an all-wise, all-good, all-loving shepherd who is looking out for me!

In fact, when I have gone through difficult times in my life, I have found great comfort in the timeless words of Psalm 23: “The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff–they protect me. You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over! Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the LORD’s house as long as I live.” Amen and amen!

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The Shepherd Appoints a Shepherd by Mark D. Roberts

Ezekiel 34:17-31

I will appoint for them a single shepherd, and he will feed them. My servant David will feed them. He will be their shepherd.  I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be their prince. I, the LORD, have spoken.

Ezekiel 34:23-24

In yesterday’s reflection, we saw that, after rebuking the “shepherds” of Israel for failing to care for their “flock,” God chooses to become Israel’s good shepherd. He will do what their human shepherds failed to do: seek them, rescue them, protect them, nurture them.

Yet, the Lord will not be the only shepherd of Israel. He will also appoint another shepherd, a human leader who will guide and care for them. The Lord names this person: “My servant David will feed them. He will be their shepherd” (34:23). Since Ezekiel is prophesying several centuries after King David died, he is not predicting a resurrection of the literal David, but rather a leader from the line of David who will rule over Israel as David did. The Lord alone will be the God of his people. The Davidic ruler will be the Lord’s servant and the people’s prince (34:24).

As Christians, we rightly see in this text a picture of Jesus, the Son of David, who was appointed by God as the rightful king of Israel. Jesus spoke of himself in the language of Ezekiel 34: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15).

Yet, Jesus is not just the shepherd of Israel. As he explains, “I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd” (John 10:16). These other sheep are the Gentiles, those who are part of Jesus’ flock even though they are not descendents of Abraham.

No matter your religious background, whether you were raised Jewish or Christian, Muslim or atheist, Jesus calls you to belong to him, to be part of his flock. He invites you to live in relationship with him, one in which he knows you and you know him deeply. He also invites you to join his “one flock,” so that you might live in relationship with your sisters and brothers in Christ. The essence of the Christian life is intimate fellowship with God through Christ and with his people.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: In what ways have you experienced Jesus as your shepherd? What does it mean to you to be part of the flock of Jesus?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, how I thank you for being my shepherd, my good shepherd. You have laid down your life for me, that I might live. You have invited me to enjoy relationship with you and your people. You guide me, protect me, and feed me. You know my voice and, by your grace, I know yours. What a wonder!

All praise be to you, my Good Shepherd! Amen.

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