A Soon Coming Judgment

Ezekiel 34:1 (KJV) 1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 34:2 (KJV) 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Ezekiel 34:3 (KJV) 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock.

Ezekiel 34:4 (KJV) 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up [that which was] broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

Ezekiel 34:1-4 is a perfect example of the spiritual leaders in many of our assemblies today. Many Pastors keep the flock in a state of oppression through deceitful handling of God's Word and manipulative sermons.

For instance, in the Old Testament, the tithe of the land went to feed the Levites and less fortunate in Israel.

1. The sons of Levi who had no inheritance (Numbers 18:24-26)

2. Widows who had no husband to provide for them (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)

3. Orphans who had no fathers to provide for them (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)

4. Foreigners in the land (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)

Many pastors have taken the very Scriptures that show this provision for the Levites and the less fortunate in Israel, and twisted them to formulate a doctrine where the less fortunate of their flocks are required to provide for them. Quite the contrast to the exhortation of the Apostle Paul, who said

Acts 20:33 (KJV) 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

Acts 20:34 (KJV) 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

Acts 20:35 (KJV) 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Instead of following Paul's example, they are like the condemned scribes of Mark 12...

Mark 12:38 (KJV) 38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and [love] salutations in the marketplaces,

Mark 12:39 (KJV) 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

Mark 12:40 (KJV) 40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

The Apostle Peter exhorts:

1 Peter 5:2 (KJV) 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Peter 5:3 (KJV) 3 Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

This exhortation, they ignore.

Just as God's judgment came upon the shepherds of Israel, so also, His judgment will be against these wicked pastors who handle deceitfully His Word and oppress their congregations with their lies.
Ezekiel 34:5-10 reveal God removing the sheep from the shepherd's care. The shepherd cared not for the well-being of the sheep, and so he could no longer be considered their authority. He was no longer their leader.

Today, we see many leaving institutional organizations that men call churches due to oppression. The pastors have been keeping them in poverty through the monetary tithe requirement lie, and they are being removed from that flock by the Spirit of God.

As in the final verses of Ezekiel 34, God is moving His true Church, His sheep, moving on to green pastures. He is moving them to a place where they are both watered, and nourished.