Journeys have a mystic and magic that words can’t explain. I’ve been on my own journey for years to find what I’m meant to do. Find who I really am. What matters and what am I willing to do about it? During this passage I have found (Bible) scripture to be helpful. I’ve been reading more than normal – more often. Along the path I have found scriptures that jumped at me about the type of place I want to belong. Where I hope my journey leads. One of those scriptures has been Ezekiel 34. If you’ve read very much of this prophet you find yourself flooded with images and impending judgment – but its here my heart was touched. Let me explain.

Without posting the entire chapter (I would encourage you to read it), I want to highlight one specific image – the prophecy of Christ. Jesus in the gospels didn’t invent the imagery of shepherd and sheep. God introduced this metaphor in Ezekiel. However, maybe you remember when Jesus asked His listeners would a shepherd leave his flock to found the one lost? Regardless if you know the story, Jesus evoked this prophecy in Ezekiel in the mind of any good Jewish boy.

Ezekiel 34 God is proclaiming doom on the leaders of Israel (God’s people) because they put themselves first and neglected the people. God wanted to know why they didn’t care for people first and themselves second (v.2)? They neglected the sick, injured, and lost – leading His people to sin. You can sense the anger of God that His sheep are scattered and no one out looking for them.

In verse 10 God says “I’m coming down on the shepherds and taking my sheep back. They’re fired as shepherds of my sheep. No more shepherds who just feed themselves! I’ll rescue my sheep from their greed. They’re not going to feed off my sheep any longer! (The Message). That makes me want to cry…no more oppressing my people, I’m taking them back! If you’re a shepherd you’re running for the exits, if you’re a sheep you’re found. God says (v.11-16) that His going to search for them scattered aboard and “bring them back to their home country…I’ll go after the lost, I’ll collect the strays, I’ll doctor the injured, and I’ll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they’re not exploited.”

So where does Jesus come into all this? Well, God says He will appoint one shepherd over them all – His servant David. “He’ll feed them. He’ll be their shepherd. And I, God, will be their God. My servant David will be their prince (v. 23-24). Jesus is the one who fulfilled this prophecy. He is the Good Shepherd…the root of David. I love how it ends, “You are my dear flock, the flock of my pasture, my human flock, And I am your God (v.31).”

All the imagery of this chapter shaped my philosophy of a church. A church that keeps a covenant of peace, who banishes those who would bring harm and not safety, a church that causes blessing (v.25-26). An environment that develops fruit, a foundation (ground) that produces life – a church people feel content and safe to explore God. And in that search for God they’ll realize that He is God when He breaks them out of their slavery (sin) and rescues them from their sin obsession (v.27).

A people of grace – Graceland People – that will not allow any person or leader to exploit and ransack the journey we all engage. People who are apart of such a church will live safe and sound, fearless and free with knowledge that this rediscovered place is truly “their home country.” There’s something about finding home, a place that is rich, lavished with growth -no more living half-starved, no longer taunted by the past (v.28-29)

We have left the old country of sin behind…we entered into the new country of grace – a new life in a new land (Romans 6.3; MSG)