Eze 34:23-27 | JFB | STEP | 23. set up-- that is, raise up by divine appointment; alluding to the declaration of God to David, "I will set up thy seed after thee" ( ); and, "Yet have I set My king on My holy hill of Zion" ( ; compare ; 13:23). one shepherd-- literally, "a Shepherd, one": singularly and pre-eminently one: the only one of His kind, to whom none is comparable ( ). The Lord Jesus refers to this prophecy ( ), "I am THE Good Shepherd." Also "one" as uniting in one the heretofore divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and also "gathering together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth" ( ); thus healing worse breaches than that between Israel and Judah ( ). "God by Him reconciling all things unto Himself, whether things in earth or in heaven." David-- the antitypical David, Messiah, of the seed of David, which no other king after the captivity was: who was fully, what David was only in a degree, "the man after God's own heart." Also, David means beloved: Messiah was truly God's beloved Son ( ; ). Shepherd means King, rather than religious instructor; in this pre-eminently He was the true David, who was the Shepherd King ( , 33). Messiah is called "David" in , ; ; .

‏ Ezekiel 34:23-27

23. set up--that is, raise up by divine appointment; alluding to the declaration of God to David, "I will set up thy seed after thee" (2Sa 7:12); and, "Yet have I set My king on My holy hill of Zion" (Psa 2:6; compare Ac 2:30; 13:23).

one shepherd--literally, "a Shepherd, one": singularly and pre-eminently one: the only one of His kind, to whom none is comparable (So 5:10). The Lord Jesus refers to this prophecy (Joh 10:14), "I am THE Good Shepherd." Also "one" as uniting in one the heretofore divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and also "gathering together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth" (Ep 1:10); thus healing worse breaches than that between Israel and Judah (Col 1:20). "God by Him reconciling all things unto Himself, whether things in earth or in heaven."

David--the antitypical David, Messiah, of the seed of David, which no other king after the captivity was: who was fully, what David was only in a degree, "the man after God's own heart." Also, David means beloved: Messiah was truly God's beloved Son (Is 42:1; Mt 3:17). Shepherd means King, rather than religious instructor; in this pre-eminently He was the true David, who was the Shepherd King (Lu 1:32, 33). Messiah is called "David" in Is 55:3, 4; Jr 30:9; Ho 3:5.

24. my servant--implying fitness for ruling in the name of God, not pursuing a self-chosen course, as other kings, but acting as the faithful administrator of the will of God; Messiah realized fully this character (Psa 40:7, 8; Is 42:1; 49:3, 6; 53:11; Php 2:7), which David typically and partially represented (Ac 13:36); so He is the fittest person to wield the world scepter, abused by all the world kings (Da 2:34, 35, 44, 45).

25. covenant of peace ... evil beasts ... to cease ... dwell safely--The original promise of the law (Le 26:6) shall be realized for the first time fully under Messiah (Is 11:6-9; 35:9; Ho 2:18).

26. them and the places round about my hill--The Jews, and Zion, God's hill (Psa 2:6), are to be sources of blessing, not merely to themselves, but to the surrounding heathen (Is 19:24; 56:6, 7; 60:3; Mi 5:7; Zec 8:13). The literal fulfilment is, however, the primary one, though the spiritual also is designed. In correspondence with the settled reign of righteousness internally, all is to be prosperity externally, fertilizing showers (according to the promise of the ancient covenant, Le 26:4; Psa 68:9; Mal 3:10), and productive trees and lands (Eze 34:27). Thus shall they realize the image of Eze 34:14; namely, a flock richly pastured by God Himself.

27. served themselves of them--availed themselves of their services, as if the Jews were their slaves (Jr 22:13; 25:14; compare Ge 15:13; Ex 1:14).