Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ezekiel 34:16

"I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice." — Ezekiel 34:16 (ASV)

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, –

Ah, one hardly thinks, perhaps, that there could be such a thing as a poor sheep driven away; but it is sometimes true! A legal preacher drives Christ's sheep away from Christ. A seeking soul would gladly come to Jesus, but he is told that he must be something, and do something, before he can come. The poor sinner would trust in Jesus, but he is told first to achieve a particular state of heart; he is told, "You are not the person who should be encouraged to come to Christ; you must have some deeper experience before you come."

But, blessed be God, the Good Shepherd says, if Satan has driven you away, or a legal preacher has driven you away, I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, –

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: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

Those who are proud and lifted up will meet with no blessing, but those who feel their poverty, their weakness, their nothingness, will be the favored ones of God. Can not some of you poor lost ones, driven-away ones, broken ones, and sick ones, take hold of this promise?

You may see daylight through it, however dark your condition may be. God says, "I will," and you may depend upon it. He will make it good. There is never an "I will" of Jehovah that will fall to the ground.

And will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

Those who boast of being fat and strong, who glory in themselves, these God will destroy; but the poor, weak, sick souls will be fed with kindness tempered with judgment.

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: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

It is a sweet thing, then, to be one of the needy ones of the flock because you see all the promises run that way, but, if we feel ourselves to be very strong and great, we are in a dangerous state, for then there is no promise for us. The only word concerning us is – I will destroy the fat and the strong.