The Shepherd's Covenant

UV 3658/10000 The Shepherd’s Covenant I will make them and the places around My hill (Jerusalem, Zion)a blessing. And I will make showers come down in their season; there will be (abundant) showers of blessing ( divine favour). Ezekiel 34 v 26 The picture the prophet Ezekiel paints is quite pastural. First, he talks of the Messiah being a shepherd like David. He is no ordinary shepherd but the prince among shepherds. He is the chief Shepherd. A shepherd walks where the sheep walks and Jesus has walked where humans have walked. Like David stayed and defended his father's sheep from predators like a lion and a bear, Jesus stays with us and defends us. Just as David broke the lion's jaw with his hands, Jesus defeated the roaring lion, the enemy of our souls who roams around to see which soul he can devour. Whatever the killer, the lion throws at us or attacks us with, Jesus brings something sweet out of it like the dead lion's carcass in the Samson story. He either gives us immediate victory or ultimate victory and often both. He will judge between the well fed sheep and the lean sheep, the well behaved sheep and the not so well behaved and aggressive ones that gore or butt or harm others. He will rescue His flock from being a prey to the predators. He will eliminate the predators from the land so that we ( the believers) will live live securely, be fed and sleep safely in the woods. We would have plenty of water ( divine blessings) to quench our thirst or meet our every need. He will renew our source of water in the due season or on time. We will not be victims of famine or pestilence ( read Covid 19). We will not have to face or endure the insults of people of different nations who revel in mocking us or our faith. By these means, we will know or we have evidence that the Lord is with us, His favour is upon us. He has made a covenant of peace with us. He has broken the bars of our yoke and set us free from every sin, fear and curse. We have moved from spiritual poverty to spiritual abundance. Jesus is the Prince of peace who seals the covenant with His own blood and spirit. It is inviolable. It is our guarantee of eternal life, of hope, of peace, of security, of provision. While we humans are looking to the summits of achievement, of worldly success, of prosperity and security, of promotion in the scale of society, the Lord is preparing a safe place for us in the valley. The low times of our lives are the times He is closest to us. The reality and intimacy of His bonds of love with us comes through in such valley times. On the hills and mountains of attainment, we might feel exhilarated and taken in by our own success but it is in the pastures of the valley that the river of God’s grace flows. It is where we can drink to our fill of His grace. In the valley where we are vulnerable and open to attack by the predatory animals, we most sense His loving protection and care. We are not to be afraid of the predators but being aware of these real threats, risks and dangers, we should always walk close to Jesus, the good Shepherd. Jesus has proven Himself capable in human history to restore us from death, to defend us from death, to equip us against falling prey to the subtle predators and to avoid the more brazen and bold ones. He has proven Himself able to provide for our every need of spirit, mind and body.