Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet … you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. Ezekiel 34:18–22 NKJV
In Ezekiel 34, God first addresses the shepherds of Israel, castigating them for mistreating His sheep, taking advantage of them as though they were their own possessions.
He goes on in the above verses to rebuke the rams and the bucks of the goats for their quarreling, their striving for leadership in God’s flock. Sadly enough, these verses do not only apply to Israel of old; similar fighting often takes place in churches or assemblies of Christians today. Would-be leaders often are not satisfied to enjoy the green pastures and still waters the Good Shepherd provides for them. By their in-fighting with each other they spoil these good things for the weaker, often the younger ones in the rest of the flock. They are certainly not occupied with the Good Shepherd as they fight for preeminence with their competitors. The weaker ones lose out too, for the sweet green pastures are torn up and the still waters get muddied. They get greatly discouraged, their needs are not met, and off they go!
Ultimately, God must step in: “Thus says the Lord God to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep … I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey … I will establish one Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them’” (vv. 20–23). Let us follow Him rather than fighting among ourselves!