121 Days of Prayer

I Now Consider These Shepherds My Enemies

The purposes of this prayer are: Salvation, Sustenance, Reconciliation, Mercy, Leadership, Justice and Healing.

Loving God, you explained to the Israelites through Ezekiel that you personally would lead the Israelite captives back from exile to Judah and Jerusalem: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, and I will stop them from feeding themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey. For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away; and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes- feed them justice!” Ezekiel 34:10–16 (NLT). Merciful Lord, thank you for extending your plan of salvation to all peoples through faith in your Son, Jesus the Christ. Amen.