Good Sheep, Bad Sheep (Ezekiel 34:11-18)

Good Sheep, Bad Sheep (Ezekiel 34:11-18)

 

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 

12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 

13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.

14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 

16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

17 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 

18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

 

Intro)

 

1. Britain, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and Kazakhstan are countries well-known for their sheep. Their relationship with sheep goes no deeper than livestock for selling wool, leather, or meat. Israel however, has profound ties and stories related to sheep.

 

The Old Testament describes the relationship between God and the Israelites as one between a shepherd and his sheep. The New Testament uses the same metaphor for Jesus and the Israelites, his disciples, and his believers. Sheep were also incredibly important sacrifices in the Old Testament as they were the animals sacrificed for the forgiveness of sins.

 

Todays scripture boils down the Israelites into two groups: good sheep and bad sheep. What determines a sheep to be “good” or “bad” depends on their character, nature, and actions. Let us take a look at the lessons in today’s scripture.

 

Body)

 

A) All Israelites Belong to God

 

1. In today’s scripture, “sheep” and “flock” are mentioned several times to emphasize God’s role as our shepherd. Take a look at 11-12, 15, and 17: “11 …I myself will search for my sheep and look after them… 12…so will I look after my sheep… 15 …I myself will tend my sheep… 17 “‘As for you, my flock...” The Israelites belonged to God.

 

Then what does that mean for us? Who do we, as Christians, belong to? Paul tells us in Romans 14:8, “…whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.” We, too, are God’s sheep.

 

God is the rightful ruler of our world. He is truly just and righteous. But when people try to rule and govern themselves, we get mistakes, corruption, and greed. There are very few presidents and politicians who leave office with a clean legacy and record. Humans are sinful by nature, so it is only natural that things under our control are corrupted as well. only through God’s grace and reign can we be saved from ourselves.

 

Sheep are happiest when they follow the guidance and commands of their shepherd. They are fed, protected, and loved. We must also follow our shepherd if we want to find true peace and happiness. We must follow God.

 

B) Good Sheep and Bad Sheep

 

Sheep were used as sacrifices because they were originally all gentle and clean animals. But as time passed and the effects of the changing environment took a toll, a “bad” group of sheep slowly emerged. In Israel, where droughts were common, sheep were herded on dry and arid land. The once clean sheep inevitably became dirty under these conditions.

 

A pastor once visited a sheep herding village of the Bedouin tribe and was shocked by what he saw. The sheep were covered in mud, urine, and feces; they were crippled with disease and other physical ailments. Such sheep would never be used as a sacrifice.

 

Of course, these are just physical traits. But there are also sheep that do not listen to their shepherds, run away, or torment weaker sheep. There are good sheep and bad sheep.

 

C) What Makes a Good Sheep?

 

1. A sheep that can be sacrificed.

In the Old Testament, cows, goats, doves, and sheep were animals often used as sacrifices to God. Of these animals, the sheep was the animal used for the forgiveness of sins. The night before the exodus, the Israelites in Egypt killed and used the blood of lambs to paint their doorways for safety. It was said that the most precious of sacrificial sheep were the first born male lambs that were pure with no fault.

 

These pure and innocent lambs represent the ultimate sacrifice that would later be made on our sinful behalf: Jesus Christ. This is why John the Baptist lamented that Jesus was the lamb of God, carrying the world’s sin.

 

What kind of sheep are you? Are you a sheep clean and pure enough for sacrifice? Are you a good sheep God can use? Or are you a bad sheep, driven by your own stubbornness, opinions, temper, evil, laziness, habits, selfishness, and greed? We must all take a deeper and closer look to evaluate ourselves.

 

2. A sheep that follows its shepherd.

A good sheep follows and obeys its shepherd. How do you become a good son or daughter? You listen to your parents, obey them, ease their worries, and make them happy and proud. How do you become a good sheep? You listen to the shepherd, follow the shepherd, and trust the shepherd.

 

If you read the biographies of some of the greatest figures throughout history, all of them were respectful and obedient of the teachings of their parents, teachers, or mentors. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight L. Moody, and John D. Rockefeller are just a few of such greats.

 

Let’s take Rockefeller as an example:

Rockefeller’s mother was a devout Baptist. She took him to church every Sunday without fail. She had him learn the Bible at Sunday School. Rockefeller grew up with the faith his mother instilled in him at a young age. Years later, when Rockefeller became the success story we all know today, he attributed his wealth and good fortune to his mother and her 10 commandments.

 

These are his mother’s 10 commandments:

1. Serve God, the Father, above anyone else. Serve Him and trust Him more than your own parents.

2. Serve your pastor second after God. Even if they have faults, respect and serve them.

3. Attend services and volunteer at your home church.

4. Always tithe. Your right pocket should be your tithe pocket.

5. Do not make any enemies.

6. Pray for your goals every morning. Start every day with prayer.

7. End each day on self-reflection.

8. Read the Bible every morning.

9. Do all you can to help others.

10. Always sit in the front row during services.

 

How does your faith measure up to these “commandments”? Let us all become obedient good sheep of God.

 

D) What Makes a Bad Sheep?

 

1. A sheep that forgets the grace it received and betrays the shepherd.

Verse 18 says, “18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?”

 

“Clear water” represents God’s word. Bad sheep deem this water insufficient and dirty it with their own feet. Bad sheep deem God’s word and grace insufficient or irrelevant and turn their backs on Him.

 

A truly great person does not betray grace. They do not forget who saved them and how they received salvation. Bad sheep think their success was all thanks to their own strength and glorify themselves. But the Lord clearly warns us that those who raise themselves up will surely fall.

 

There are a few graces that we must never forget and betray.

First is the grace of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for our salvation. We must never turn our backs on the blood that granted us everlasting life.

 

During the Civil War, President Lincoln bought a young girl at a slave auction. He brought her to his home, gave her new clothes, and fed her. He then told her that although he bought her, he was not her master. He was giving her freedom and allowed her to go wherever she wanted. The girl asked again if she truly was free and able to do whatever she wanted. When Lincoln assured her that she was indeed free, she told him that she wanted to choose to stay and serve him.

 

We, too, must not leave Jesus, our savior who paid for us with his own blood. Do not betray this amazing grace. Love him and serve him. There are many people who leave the church because of human conflicts. If this happens, then they should turn to another church, not turn their backs on church and God completely. Do not betray God’s grace. Even Paul tells us to not take His grace lightly.

 

Second, is the grace from other people such as your parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, and the church. Do not turn your backs on them. Do not neglect to repay the grace your have received from others.

 

2. A sheep that throws tantrums and become violent.

Verse 21 says, “21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away.” The “shoulder” illustrate strength and the “horns” depict power. Bad sheep use these to torment and hurt weaker sheep.

 

The people who do this are the people who are mean spirited and do all they can to bring people down. But we must not be one of these bad sheep. We must be kind hearted and seek to build others up, not tear them down.

 

Verse 17 tells us that such “bad sheep” are actually goats, “As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.”

 

Beware of goats under the guise of sheep. Beware of the fake churches, fake pastors, fake Christians. These people may fool others, but no one can fool God. These people tarnish the name of God and the reputation of true Christians. These people are ruled by their own greed. These people will receive God’s final judgment.

 

Con)

Be a good sheep. Stand on the side of good. Do good work. Say good things. Sings good songs, write good stories, befriend good people. Choose to read books of goodness and look at art of goodness. Comfort each other, support each other, and help each other.

 

Jesus said that a telltale sign of a disciple is loving and serving each other. We must be ruled by the Holy Spirit. In the beginning all sheep appear to be good. They repent for their lives.

 

But the world has a way of leading us astray without our knowledge. We’re led to the side of evil and it creeps into our lives ever so subtly. When we recognize how far we’ve come, we fear it may be too late.

 

But it is never too late. You can turn back to God at any time. You can leave that world behind at any time. You can repent and return to your shepherd at any time. Let us become good, obedient, gentle, and clean sheep who are worthy of God’s love and Jesus’s sacrifice.

 

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