Old Testament | Ezekiel 34:11-20 (with Tom Gastil)

Opening Song:
The Good Shepherd by Fernando Ortega, Jana Alayra, and Tim Macres

Lyrics:
I am The Good Shepherd
I lay down my life for you
Enter in enter in enter in
I am The Good Shepherd
As the Father knows me I know you
I know you I know you I know you
And no one can take you away
And no one can take you away
You are The Good Shepherd
You lay down your life for me
Enter in enter in enter in
You are The Good Shepherd
As the Father knows you you know me
You know me you know me you know me
And no one can take you away
And no one can take you away

Passage:
11 “‘For this is what the Lord God says: See, I myself will search for my flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and total darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own soil. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will tend them in good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will tend my flock and let them lie down. This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy[b] the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.

17 “‘As for you, my flock, the Lord God says this: Look, I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and goats. 18 Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn’t it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Yet my flock has to feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied.

20 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

Musical Reflection:
“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” tune by William Bradbury

Reflection Notes:
The tune BRADBURY is named for its composer, a New Englander from the first half of the nineteenth century. The sweet melody for the verses repeats, then is followed by a strong refrain.

Prayer:
Father, what we know not, teach us; what we have not, give us; what we are not, make us; for the sake of your Son our Savior. Amen.
-Old Anglican Prayer