Strengthen the Weak

“You did not strengthen the weak...you did not seek the lost...” Ezekiel 34:4

These verses in Ezekiel do not need explaining. “Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.” God is warning leaders, bosses, anyone who is a shepherd in any sense, of what will happen if we do not take care of our sheep, those we are responsible for. 

It’s easy to point a finger at corrupt and authoritarian political leaders all around the world, and blame them for their people’s’ plight. Instead of taking care of the welfare of their “sheep”, they take advantage of their position and “lord it over them harshly and brutally”. We also know of fathers who, instead of taking care of their families, take to drinking, beating their wives, and not even supporting them. How about heads of corporations and businesses, who live lavish lives on their huge profits while their workers are not even paid correctly, with no overtime pay and benefits? Teachers are shepherds too, and a bad teacher can injure a child forever. 

Let us see ourselves through God’s eyes. We are all shepherds in some way, and we can strengthen those who are weak, and bind up the injured. Especially during this time of pandemic, there are so many in need of help. It can be mind boggling at times. Many need food, financial assistance for education, livelihood, even bail money. We can give words of encouragement, but most of all we can pray. Let us not belittle the support of prayer. “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”, said Alfred Lord Tennyson.