Ezekiel | Ezekiel 34 | John Baker

What happens when the leaders meant to protect God’s people start protecting themselves.In Ezekiel 34, God brings a covenant lawsuit against the “shepherds” of Israel. Kings, priests, prophets, and elders who were called to know, feed, and guard the flock had instead consumed it. They ruled with force. They neglected the weak. They drove people away. And in a stunning twist, the leaders who were supposed to reflect God’s compassionate rule began to resemble Pharaoh himself.But this passage is not just about ancient leadership failure. It exposes a deeper issue that still confronts us today: hard hearts and disordered loves. When leaders stop seeking the LORD, they start serving themselves. When people crave visible power more than God’s rule, everyone suffers.Yet even in judgment, there is hope. God still calls them “My flock” and “My sheep.” He promises to remove corrupt shepherds and prepare the way for a greater Shepherd-King who can truly rescue, restore, and win our hearts.This sermon invites us to examine our own affections, our understanding of leadership, and our need for a new and greater love that displaces pride, fear, and self-protection. Only the true Shepherd can gather what has been scattered and give us new hearts.