Contemplative Bible Reading

Ezekiel 34:5-6 (New Living Translation)

5 So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal. 6 They have wandered through all the mountains and all the hills, across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them.

God is talking to the people through Ezekiel. God is talking about the leaders of the people. The leaders are like shepherds and the people are like sheep. God describes the leaders, i.e., producers by describing the people, i.e., the products.

Want to know if a fruit tree is any good? Look at the fruit that comes from it. Want to know if a football coach is any good? Look at the football players. Want to know if a sheep herder is any good? Look at the sheep.

God saw sheep scattered without a shepherd. These scattered sheep were easy prey for wild animals. The people were wandering about and were easy prey for an invading enemy. The people didn’t know right from wrong and were easy prey for some con man coming in and speaking untruth to them.

The people were lost, and no one was looking for them. The leaders were no where to be found. Failures.

God, bless leaders everywhere. Help them to lead justly with righteousness. Bless people with good leaders. Bless people with the desire to have good leaders.