Meet the Prophet Ezekiel
Where is the Book of Ezekiel found in the Bible?
In the Old Testament.
According to verses 2-3, what were the shepherds of Israel supposed to do for the sheep?
Feed and care for them.
According to verse 5, what happened to the sheep when there was no good shepherd to care for them?
They were scattered and became food for wild animals.
According to verse 11, who does God say will search for His sheep?
God Himself.
Based on verses 2-3, 11-16, what is one difference between the shepherds of Israel and the Shepherd God promises to be?
The shepherds cared primarily for themselves, while God promises to care for His sheep.
The Book of Ezekiel is the 26th book in the Bible. It is immediately before the Book of ________ and immediately after the Book of Lamentations.
Daniel
According to verses 2-3, what did the shepherds do instead of caring for the sheep?
They fed themselves rather than the flock.
According to verse 6, what happened to God's sheep when they became scattered?
They wandered over the mountains and hills and were scattered throughout the land.
According to verses 11-12, what does God promise to do for His scattered sheep?
He will seek them out and rescue them from the places where they have been scattered.
Based on verses 11-16, why do you think God repeatedly talks about seeking, finding, bringing back, healing, and strengthening His sheep?
Because God is concerned not only with where His people are but also with their condition. He wants to restore those who are lost, broken, weak, or scattered.
According to verses 1-2, who is the prophet through whom God spoke the words in Ezekiel 34?
Ezekiel.
According to verse 4, name two things the shepherds failed to do for the sheep.
(1) They did not strengthen the weak, (2) heal the sick, (3) bind up the injured, (4) bring back the scattered, (5) or seek the lost.
According to verses 11-12, what did God say He would do for His scattered sheep?
He would search for them and rescue them.
According to verse 13, where does God promise to bring His sheep?
He will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land.
Based on verses 4, 11-16, if a sheep is weak, injured, or lost, what does Ezekiel 34 teach us about how it should be treated?
It should be cared for, strengthened, healed, sought after, and brought back, not ignored or abandoned.
According to verse 2, what group of people was Ezekiel speaking against when God gave him this message?
The shepherds of Israel. The leaders who were supposed to care for God's people.
How did the shepherds treat the sheep under their care?
They ruled over them harshly and brutally.
What four things does God say He will do for His sheep in Ezekiel 34:11-15?
He will feed them, give them rest, seek them, and bring them back.
According to verses 14-16, name three ways God says He will care for His sheep.
He will feed them, give them good pasture, make them lie down, seek the lost, bring back the scattered, strengthen the weak, and heal the sick.
What can we learn from this lesson about how we should treat people who are struggling or have wandered away?
We should not simply criticize or reject them. We should seek them, care for them, strengthen them, help restore them, and show them God's compassion.
Based on verses 2-4, why do you think God chose the picture of a shepherd and sheep to describe Israel's leaders and His people?
Because a shepherd is responsible for leading, protecting, feeding, caring for, and seeking after the sheep. God was showing that leaders have a responsibility to care for the people entrusted to them, not use them for their own benefit.
Based on verses 2-4 & 10, what warning does Ezekiel 34 give to anyone who has been given responsibility over other people?
Leadership is not about using people for personal benefit. Those entrusted with others must care for them, strengthen them, protect them, seek those who are struggling, and lead with compassion. God holds leaders accountable for how they treat those under their care.
Based on verses 11-16, what does it tell us about God's character that He goes looking for sheep that have been scattered and lost?
It shows that God does not abandon people when they are lost, hurting, or far away. He takes the initiative to seek them, rescue them, bring them back, and care for them. His love is personal and persistent.
In Ezekiel 34:16, God says, “I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.” What does this teach us about the kind of Shepherd God is?
God is a Shepherd who does not simply look for strong and healthy sheep. He pays attention to the lost, scattered, broken, and weak. He meets people where they are and works to restore them. His care is personal, compassionate, and complete.
If God were to examine how we treat the people He has placed around us, would He see the heart of a shepherd or the heart of someone only concerned about themselves? Explain.
A shepherd's heart looks beyond itself. It notices the weak, seeks the lost, helps the broken, strengthens those who are struggling, and cares about the well-being of others. Ezekiel 34 challenges us to examine whether our actions reflect God's heart or whether we are more concerned with ourselves.