July 18
DebDay 126: Blood On Our Hands
If you are a leader, you cannot read Ezekiel 34 dispassionately. If you are a pastor, an elder, deacon, or GC leader, this chapter holds a potential indictment for us all.
The leaders amongst God's people had not acknowledged the warning signs, nor sounded the alarm for the people.
To make it personal, God even tells Ezekiel he is a "watchman for the people." If he sounds the alarm, he's then off the hook, whether the people respond or not.
But...if he doesn't sound the alarm, their "blood will be on his hands." What's the alarm, you ask? Repent of your evil ways, and acknowledge God's sovereignty. Because judgment awaits.
Through the mouth of the prophet, God tells the "shepherds of Israel" that they've made themselves fat and comfortable, feeding on the sheep instead of feeding the sheep. All while the sheep have been left to wander and starve. Sheep without a shepherd.
God then says, "Behold, I, I myself, will search for my sheep and will seek them out."
He will gather them, feed them, and care for them, describing for them a place of abundance and protection lifted right from the words of Psalm 23.
Then God says something else. He will judge between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep. The fat sheep are the ones counting on their own religious (all self-serving) behavior to justify them, while the skinny sheep are the "poor in spirit" sheep (described in Matthew 6.)
God will provide for the skinny sheep a Good Shepherd, calling him His "servant David." Meaning, from the line of David a Savior Shepherd would come, Jesus the promised Messiah.
So in this one chapter, we have leaders who have abandoned their post while caring only for themselves; and some sheep who are feeling pretty good about themselves.
And the poor in spirit sheep who need a shepherd, one whom God promises to provide.
All this is said, so "they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, that they are My people." And for the reader not tracking with the analogy, God says, "And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God."
Back to church leaders. The writer of Hebrews says to "Remember [pray for] your leaders."
All of us with leadership titles and roles in church are loaded with a heavy burden. Hebrews 13:7 says, "...for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account."
It requires us to sound the gospel alarm. It demands we feed and protect. It means we cannot abandon or abuse the role.
Because we are human sheep who are also called to be under-shepherds, serving the Great Shepherd.
Because we do not want your blood on our hands.
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
