Ezekiel 34:23-24

DISCOURSE: 1115
DAVID A TYPE OF CHRIST

Ezekiel 34:23. I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.

THERE is nothing so comforting to an afflicted soul, as to contemplate the promises of God: indeed they were given to us for this very purpose, that they might be our support and consolation in the time of trouble. The same may be observed with respect to the prophecies that relate to Christ; they were delivered to the Church in seasons of peculiar trial, as encouragements to the saints to hold fast their profession. It was under circumstances of this nature, that the glorious prophecy before us was revealed. Both the ecclesiastical and civil governors of Israel had greatly oppressed the poor, and especially the godly: but God afforded them seasonable support, by declaring, that he would not only espouse their cause, but would raise up to them a Shepherd, and a Governor of a very different description, even the Messiah himself, who should redress all their wrongs, and bring them into the possession of perfect happiness.

Such being the occasion of the words, we proceed to consider them,

I. As fulfilled at the first coming of our Lord—

It is undoubtedly the Messiah that is here called “David”—
[David himself had been dead many hundred years; nor has there been any other person after him, to whom this appellation was ever given. But Christ is frequently spoken of in the prophets by the name of David [Note: Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 37:24.]; and to him the characters, here annexed to that name, most eminently belong. He is called by that name, because David was a very distinguished type of him. David was chosen by God from a very low state, and was anointed to be king over Israel. He was also made a prophet of the Most High God; and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, often spake as actually personating the Messiah himself. Many parts of his heavenly compositions, though apparently intended respecting himself, have indeed no reference to himself at all, except as he was a type of Christ, in whom the very things predicted were literally fulfilled [Note: Psalms 22:18; Psalms 69:21.]. And so exact was the correspondence between the type and antitype, that Christ, springing “from the root of Jesse,” “as a root out of the dry ground [Note: Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 53:2.],” and “anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows [Note: Psalms 45:7.],” was born (according to the predictions) in the very place of David’s nativity [Note: Micah 5:2. with Matthew 2:5.], was constituted a prophet like unto him, and was raised to “the throne of his father David [Note: Luke 1:32.]

He sustains the offices that are here assigned him—
[Like his honoured representative, he was to be a shepherd. David, in his early youth, followed the occupation of a shepherd, and repeatedly exposed his life to most imminent danger in defence of the flock entrusted to him [Note: 1 Samuel 17:34.]. And, after he became a king, he still figuratively at least sustained the same office, “feeding his people, according to the integrity of his heart, and guiding them by the skilfulness of his hands [Note: Psalms 78:70.].” But he, whom David typified, was in a far more exalted sense, “the great Shepherd of the sheep [Note: Hebrews 13:20.].” He not only exposed, but willingly sacrificed, his life for his sheep [Note: John 10:11.]: nor can a juster description of him be conveyed in words, than that which is given us in the preceding context [Note: Ezekiel 34:11.]: He is incessantly “seeking the lost, bringing back that which has been driven away, binding up the broken, strengthening the sick,” and administering to the necessities of all. He is also, like David, a prince. The promises of David’s exaltation were at last fulfilled, and he was seated on the throne, to which he had been appointed. He did indeed meet with innumerable conflicts in his way to it: at one time, we see him encountering Goliath; at another, fleeing from the murderous attacks of Saul: yea, he was even driven from his kingdom by his own nearest relative, and treasonably sacrificed by his most familiar friend; in consequence of which, he fled weeping over that very brook Kidron, over which his Lord passed afterwards to crucifixion. But God preserved him from every danger, and made him “Head over Israel,” and “the heathen” too [Note: Psalms 18:43.]. Thus it was also that Christ was raised to his throne: He had scarcely made his appearance in the world before he became an object of Herod’s jealousy, and was forced to seek an asylum in a heathen land [Note: Matthew 2:14.]. On many occasions he escaped only by a miraculous exertion of his own almighty power [Note: Luke 4:29.]. When his time was come, he was betrayed by one of his own disciples, who, like David’s treacherous friend, speedily went and hanged himself [Note: Psalms 69:25; Psalms 109:8. with Acts 1:20. shew Ahithophel to be in this a type of Judas.]. But, infinitely beyond David, was Christ “a man of sorrows;” “his visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.” Yet, after all, “the stone which the builders refused, was made the head-stone of the corner.” He was “exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour [Note: Acts 4:11; Acts 5:31.],” “the utmost ends of the earth were given him for his dominion;” and “of his kingdom there shall be no end [Note: Psalms 2:8; Luke 1:33.].”]

For his people also he secures the blessings that are here accorded to them—
[“God is made their God:” and this comprehends all that men or angels can receive. It is not possible for a finite imagination to conceive the full import of such an expression as this. It must certainly imply, that he will protect us from all kinds of evil, and fill us with the richest consolation both in this world, and the world to come: every perfection, which God himself possesses, shall be improved for our present benefit, and all his glory shall be enjoyed for our eternal happiness. Yet shall his most assuredly be our portion, if we be numbered among the flock of Christ. To such indeed it is that the promise in the text must be confined. As for the ungodly world, they have no prospect whatever of such a blessing: there is not one word in all the holy oracles, that warrants such a hope. But to those who believe in Christ the promises are made: to those, who have been brought into his fold, who feed in his pastures, and yield up themselves unfeignedly to his dominion, God has pledged himself to be their God. Nor shall any who seek him in his appointed way, fail to be partakers of it [Note: Ezekiel 37:24.]

But we must view this prophecy,

II.

As waiting for a fuller and more glorious accomplishment—

We cannot doubt but it shall be yet more abundantly fulfilled—
[Its completion in the apostolic age was very partial. The Jews themselves yet look for its accomplishment in their Messiah. Nor is the time far distant when it shall be fulfilled in all its glorious extent [Note: Isaiah 29:17.] — — — The Lord Jesus will gather his people from every quarter of the globe [Note: Hosea 3:5.Jeremiah 32:37.] — — — He will feed them in green pastures, and rule over them in Zion [Note: Isaiah 24:23.] — — — And God will manifest himself to be “their God,” with such displays of his glory, as shall far transcend any which he ever vouchsafed to his people in the days of old [Note: Isaiah 60:19.] — — —]

Address—

Receive now the Saviour under the characters in which he is here offered to you—
[Could we obtain mercy with God in any other way, there were the less reason for concerning ourselves about an interest in Christ. But in vain shall we attempt to ingratiate ourselves in the divine favour by any other means: we must obey the voice of that good Shepherd, and follow him: we must submit ourselves to the government of that Prince, and become his faithful subjects: then, and then only, will God acknowledge us as his people, and give himself to us as our God. Let us not then neglect the Saviour any more: let us rather go to him with one accord: let us entreat him to take us under his charge. Then, whatever may be the fate of those who are at a distance from him, we shall be delivered from our spiritual enemies; and, having suffered awhile with him, shall in due time be glorified together [Note: Romans 8:17.]. You may safely trust the promises of God.

Many hundred years before the coming of Christ was this prophecy delivered: and how exactly was it accomplished in every thing that respected Him! He was appointed our Shepherd; he was exalted to be our Prince; and to this very hour has he executed these offices in their fullest extent. Shall we doubt then whether the prophecy shall be fulfilled as it respects us? Will God refuse to be our God, when we desire to be his people? Or will he be only nominally our God, and withhold from us the blessings that are implied in that relation? Has he done what is so infinitely greater, and will he decline to do the less? Has he not “delivered up for us his only Son, and will he not with him also freely give us all things [Note: Romans 8:32.]?” We cannot doubt. He says, “I the Lord have spoken it:” we may be certain, therefore, that he will perform; since “with him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Let us trust then, and not be afraid; and in due season we shall enjoy, “according to his covenant, the sure mercies of David [Note: Isaiah 55:3.].”]