Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-4
For Christ the King, the lectionary selects these sections.

After God indicts poor leaders/shepherds. God decides to take center stage for the exiles in the promise of better leadership. this image is in Ps. 23, of course, and Ps. 80. Jeremiah is on the same page at 23:1-6. Micah' famously uses the image in 4:6 and again in 7:14. Of ocurse, John 10 employs the image toward christ and Rev. has the lamb replace the lion.

All of the leadership failures of v. 4 will be addressed by God's care for a restored people. If this is the Day of the Lord, it is one of restoration, but perhaps of deep darkness for others. Some manuscripts have God on the warpath (asmid, but others have a more benevolent view, asmir)Perhaps it is a new exodus.

 

This is a good place to take stock of our conceptions of leadership. Note that the word king is not employed but aservant, and an older word for leadership, prince. It is a good place to consider control v. empowerment.

It leads us to consider Social Darwinism and the survival of the fittest. God is furious tha tthe strong are expoiting the weak. It is in stark contrast to god being a republican. (Note that theological conservatives, sojourners and the ESA realize this in their postings)

God will rule through a messianic Davidic figure who will be a good shepherd.

for those of an ecological mindset, the fouling of the water is a good biblical stand against pollution.