"Indeed YAHWEH says this: I, MYSELF, will care for MY sheep and watch over them. As the shepherd looks after his flock when he finds them scattered, so will I watch over MY sheep; and gather them from all the places where they were scattered in a time of cloud and fog. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from other countries. I will lead them to their own land; and pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in all the valleys and inhabited regions of the land. I will take them to good pastures on the high mountains of Israel. They will rest where the grazing is good, and feed in lush pastures on the heights of Israel. I, MYSELF, will tend MY sheep and let them rest, word of YAHWEH. I will search for the lost and lead back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak; but the fat and strong will be eliminated. I will shepherd MY flock with justice.
As for you, MY flock--says YAHWEH--I will distinguish between one sheep and another, and set apart rams and goats." - Ezekiel 34:11-17
(I, MYSELF, will tend for MY sheep. Now YAHWEH has rejected Israel's leaders who have disappeared in the catastrophe and promises to become Israel's pastor. YAHWEH will be the good shepherd and HE names the responsibilities of a shepherd: to gather, protect and feed everyone, and to hold back the very powerful.
The time of cloud and fog, when GOD seemed distant and Israel was overwhelmed and without hope, are over. Now YAHWEH will gather HIS people from among the nations. The kingdom that GOD has prepared for the discouraged crowd will surpass all they could ever hope for. Not only will they enjoy material prosperity, but will also live in peace and rest with GOD.
As for you, I will distinguish between one sheep and another. With these words the second part begins: GOD 's judgment.
On one hand, the fat sheep: those that took advantage of the unjust social order. They were not satisfied with having a standard of living higher than the rest, but they trampled the rest of the pasture: they grew nothing on the best land in the country; they deposited abroad the money which would have stimulated economic development; they prevented the access of many to education and culture.
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