What a sad scene the prophet Ezekiel describes. Sheep astray, lambs lost on mountainsides, dangerous precipices, hopeless scattering… and none willing to bring them back! Ezekiel 34 is a stark picture of wayward sheep and inattentive shepherds. But it also is a beautiful picture of the Sovereign Lord, the Good Shepherd who comes to rescue His sheep and to declare that they belong to Him.
I remember being at summer camp once when I was young. One of the boys in our cabin misbehaved enough to force the counselors to take action. He was given the choice of receiving his discipline at home or at camp. He chose the latter, and I must say I was glad to not be him! But at the close of the camp, the boy received Jesus Christ as his Savior. The discipline of people who cared about him changed his life. He came to camp unruly; he went home with the comforting love of Jesus in his heart.
Know that the disciplining of the Lord’s rod and staff can bring comfort to you. Don’t run away from them. Run to Jesus instead.