Neither have ye healed that which was sick] The prophet first speaks of the general disease; next, of the different kinds of spiritual infirmity.

Neither have ye bound up that which was broken] If a sheep have broken a leg, a proper shepherd knows how to set the bones, and splint and bind it till the bones knit and become strong. And the skillful spiritual pastor knows, if one of the flock be overtaken in a fault, how to restore such. Those sudden falls, where there was not a strong propensity to sin, are, to the soul, as a broken bone to the body.

Neither have ye brought again] A proper shepherd loves his sheep: he feels interested for their welfare; he acquaints himself with them all, so that he knows and can distinguish each. He knows also their number, and frequently counts to see that none is missing; if one be lost or strayed, he goes immediately and seeks it; and as he is constantly on the watch, it cannot have strayed far before he is apprised of its absence from the flock; and the less it has strayed, the sooner it is found and brought back to the fold.

The shepherds of Israel knew nothing about their flock; they might have been diseased, infirm, bruised, maimed, their limbs broken, strayed, and lost; for they watched not over them. When they got fat sheep and wool for their table and their clothing, they regarded nothing else; as they considered the flock given them for their own use, and scarcely ever supposed that they were to give any thing in return for the milk and the wool.

But with force and with cruelty] Exacting tithes and dues by the strong arm of the law, with the most ungodly feeling; and with a cruelty of disposition that proved it was the fat and the wool they sought, and not the safety or comfort of the flock.

Ezek. 34:1-6 The people became as sheep without a shepherd, were give up as a prey to their enemies, and the land was utterly desolated. N rank or office can exempt from the reproofs of God's word, men wh neglect their duty, and abuse the trust reposed in them.

Ezek. 34:7-16 The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd' tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to rest on his love an faithfulness. The proud and self-sufficient, are enemies of the tru gospel and of believers; against such we must guard. He has rest for disquieted saints, and terror for presumptuous sinners.

Ezek. 34:17-31 The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock, yet the were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish betwee them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, 23-31, prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Unde Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant ou of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Ou constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; an that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew