Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Ezekiel 34:13a-14b "And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land ... There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel."
THE LORD GIVES HIS SHEEP REST
The prophet Ezekiel was called to serve God's people during a very dark and troublesome time. The people of Israel had been taken into captivity by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar. But through Ezekiel the LORD promised deliverance from this captivity and a return to their homeland where they would have rest. What great joy these words must have been to the believing people of Israel! The promise of grazing once again on the mountains of Israel - their homeland. This was something that the believing remnant of the Jews would eagerly look forward to - waiting for its fulfillment.
As New Testament believers we are able to see a double fulfillment to this prophecy of Ezekiel, not only in the rest for the Old Testament people from captivity in Babylon, but also fulfilled in the greater future, the eternal rest of heaven. This becomes more clear in the verses following our text when the LORD speaks of a covenant of peace He will make with His people through "My servant David" - referring to the promised Savior of the world who would come from the lineage of King David.
As the believing sheep of the LORD these verses assure you that the LORD will give you the blessing of eternal rest, where you will dwell in the house of the LORD forever!
Jesus, Shepherd of the sheep, Who Your Father's flock does keep,
Safe we wake and safe we sleep, Guarded still by You.
We, in robes of glory dressed, Join the assembly of the blest,
Gathered to eternal rest in the fold with You.
(WS 783:1,5)
