Ezekiel 34:31 - Homiletics

God's flock.

Israel was formerly God's flock. Christians are now God's flock.

I. CHRISTIANS ARE CONSTITUTED INTO A FLOCK . The wandering sheep are restored. They no longer roam at large over the mountains. They are gathered together. Man is naturally gregarious. Religion should deepen this characteristic by destroying selfishness and quickening the great social instinct, love. Thus Christ founded the Church idea. He recognized that he had many sheep that were not of the fold of Israel, or of his first community of disciples, and he prayed that they might all become one flock , even if they might not all be gathered into one fold . It may be impossible to restore the external unity of Christendom. At all events, this grand consummation seems at present to be far off, and some of those who profess to desire it most fervently do their worst to postpone it by their narrowness, bigotry, and serf-assertion. Certainly, if the dream is ever realized, it will not be by all sections of Christendom succumbing to the views and practices of any one party, but by a general agreement within large lines of liberty. Meanwhile, though we may not have one fold, we should be one flock. There should be a spirit of brotherhood among all Christians. The boundaries of folds do not convert sheep into wolves. The spiritual unity of Christendom may be accomplished in the spirit of charity and sympathy taking possession of the hearts of all Christians.

II. CHRISTIANS ARE TENDED AS A FLOCK . The flock is under the care of a shepherd. God has "set up one Shepherd over" his flock ( Ezekiel 34:23 )—Christ, who cares for his sheep to the extent of giving his life for them. The flock of Christ is variously tended.

1. It is fed . God has not left his people in the wilderness, or, if they must traverse that barren region, he sends heavenly manna and gives water from the rock.

2. It is sheltered . The shepherd watches over the flock by night and drives off beasts of prey. Christ guards his people from harm and danger.

3. It is led . The shepherd leads his sheep by the still waters, and ultimately home to their fold. God led his people Israel "like a flock" ( Psalms 77:20 ), till they had passed all the perils of the forty years' wandering, crossed the Jordan, and taken possession of the Promised Land. Christ leads his people through life safely on towards the heavenly Canaan.

III. Christians SHOULD BEHAVE AS A FLOCK .

1. They should follow the Shepherd . Christianity is walking in the footsteps of Christ ( John 12:26 ). We cannot expect the grace of Christ if we wander from him.

2. The flock is the property of its Owner; it exists for his advantage. It is not to be supposed that we are to receive countless blessings and render no return in obedience. The supreme end of the Church is the glory of God, though this is attained in conjunction with its own highest welfare.

3. The sheep are foolish , weak , helpless creatures . The Shepherd is far greater than they. He deserves to be locked up to with trust, and followed obediently. In our ignorance, folly, and weakness we should trust and obey our good Shepherd, who is wiser and stronger than we, and whose will is supreme over our lives.