QT 11/10/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 34. Scattered or Strengthened? 分散还是强化？

QT 11/10/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 34. Scattered or Strengthened?
https://www.esv.org/Eze+34/

MEDITATION: The metaphor of "shepherd" was applied to Israel's leaders (Ezek 34:2). If we see at least one person following us, we are indeed leading someone (at least one). If we have some influence over another person, we are actually leading that person even though we do not hold any leadership position.

REFLECTION: Have our actions or words caused others to be "scattered" (Ezek 34:5-6) instead of being "strengthened" (Ezek 34:4)?

The flock was also condemned. "As for you, my flock, thus says the LORD God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep" (Ezek 34:17). A sheep fed on "good pasture" and drunk "clear water" (Ezek 34:18) for itself, then selfishly "trodden" the pasture and "muddied" the water meant for others (Ezek 34:19).

REFLECTION (1): When another sheep is getting along well drinking clear water and eating in good pasture, do we tread on their food and muddy their drinking water? Do we poison them by saying destabilising and harmful things to make them sick?

REFLECTION (2): "Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad" (Ezek 34:21). Do we focus our energy on destruction rather than construction? Note that the LORD will judge between the "fat sheep and the lean sheep" (Ezek 34:20).

APPLICATION: Ezekiel's audience were told to focus on the LORD's restoration through His servant David, who "shall be prince among them" (Ezek 34:24). The LORD Himself would ultimately restore His people (Ezek 34:11-16,22-31). Stay away from both bad shepherds and bad sheep, and flee from their bad influence. When human leaders and fellow believers fail us, there is always the great Shepherd Jesus Christ to look up to (Heb 13:20).

星期五 2024年10月11日 今日读经：以西结书34章. 分散还是强化？
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eze/34/

默想：以西结34谈到了谴责和复兴: 领导者(结34:1-10)和跟随者(结34:17-19)都被谴责了。

“牧者”的比喻用在以色列的领袖身上(结34:2)。如果我们看到最少一个人跟随我们，我们确实是在领人(最少一个)。如果我们对其他人有影响力，我们也算是在引领那人，虽然我们没有任何领导的职衔。

反思：我们的行为或言语是否导致他人“分散”(结34:5-6)而不是“建立”他们(结34:4)?

羊群也被谴责。“我的羊啊！论到你们，主耶和华这样说：我要在羊与羊之间，在公绵羊与公山羊之间，施行审判”(结34:17)。一只羊在“美好的草场上”吃草，喝“清水”(结34:18)，然后自私地“践踏”草地和用脚“搅浊”别人喝的水(结34:19)。

反思(1): 当另一只羊正在好好地喝清水，吃着美好的草时，我们会去践踏他们的食物和搅浊他们的水吗？我们会否给他们打毒针，尽说些使他们动摇又对他们有害的话让他们听了不舒服呢？

反思(2): “因为你们用腰用肩拥挤所有瘦弱的，又用角抵触它们，直到把它们驱散到外面”(结34:21)。我们是否把精力投入在破坏而不是在建设上？注意: 耶和华必亲自在“肥羊与瘦羊之间”施行审判(结34:20)。

应用：以西结的听众要定睛耶和华透过祂的仆人大卫所带来的复兴，他“要在他们中间做领袖”(结34:24)。耶和华祂自己会使自己的子民归向祂(结34:11-16,22-31)。远离坏牧人和不好的羊群，远离他们的坏影响。当人类的领导者和信徒都让我们失去信心时，我们还可以仰望耶稣基督我们的大牧者(来13:20)。