Jesus Our Covenant Shepherd Feeds Us Himself

Today’s Word Of Encouragement From Wayne:

“I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. I will make a covenant of peace with them”

Ezekiel 34:23&25

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, feeds us Himself!

This prophetic word from Ezekiel, chapter 34, is similar to the word we have been looking at lately from Ezekiel chapter 37. Both mention “My servant David” and “a covenant of peace.” Both words also point to our priesthood in our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is both our “covenant of peace” and “My servant.”

In this case, God was rebuking the false shepherds of the house of Israel, saying “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? ...Nor have you sought the lost; but with force and severity you have dominated them...I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My sheep from them... ‘I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,’ declares the Lord” (Ezekiel 34: 2,4,10,15).

Instead of selfish shepherds, who were shamelessly using and abusing the flock of God in order to advance themselves, God was promising His true flock a true Shepherd Who would “feed My flock” and “lead them to rest.” This true shepherd would “seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick” (Vs 16), which brings us back to our present verse today, “I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them himself and be their shepherd.”

Jesus Christ is this prophesied “one shepherd” and He does presently feed us Himself. This means two things. First and most obvious is that Jesus feeds us Himself, meaning that God desires us to come directly to Him, our Shepherd, so we may be personally fed from Him, from His Own hand, His Own word, and His Own Spirit. Second, and perhaps less obvious, is that what our Shepherd is feeding us is - “Himself.”

In God’s presence, as God’s “royal priesthood’” (1 Peter 2:9), we are blessed to know, understand, and joyfully declare that Jesus Christ, Himself, is our covenant of peace, God’s true fulfillment of “My servant David,” and our “Priest forever according to the order of Melchizadek.”

In God’s presence, as God’s “royal priesthood,” Jesus feeds us Himself. He Personally feeds us Himself in His presence; nourishing us with His Own living water, His Own bread of life, His Own words of life. We are so blessed to draw near to this actual truth of being fed God’s food by God Himself.

Without our priesthood, our belief in this passage would be only lip service. However, with our priesthood, our belief in this passage becomes actual service; because we understand and receive these words. We do draw near to our one Shepherd in His covenant of peace specifically to minister to Him and, in so doing, we are fed “Himself.”

Beloved child of God, let your Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, feed you “Himself” today. Be a simple and grateful sheep of Jesus, drawing near to His Own hand, in His Own presence, being fed the peace and rest that is Himself. Hallelujah!