Shepherding in the Storm

Leading God’s People Through Suffering

Humble Leadership and Faithful Endurance

Standing Firm in the Fire

God’s Grace in Suffering

In 1 Peter 5, the apostle Peter addresses the leadership and care of God’s people, especially during times of suffering. He calls for humility, vigilance, and trust in God, both for leaders and the flock. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of God’s presence and provision in trials and the responsibility of leaders to guide others with wisdom and compassion.

1. The Role of the Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Peter exhorts elders to shepherd God’s flock willingly, not for selfish gain but with a servant’s heart. He emphasizes the importance of modeling Christ-like leadership. Matthew Henry observes, “A minister’s care must be directed to souls, not to their persons, estates, or worldly concerns, but to their spiritual condition.”

Eugene Peterson reminds us that true shepherding is rooted in humility and relational care: “The job of the shepherd is to lead, feed, and protect—not to dominate or exploit.” Leaders must remember they are accountable to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, whose return will bring eternal rewards (v.4).

Charles Spurgeon adds, “The best pastors are those who shepherd not for their own honor, but for the love of Christ and His sheep.” This echoes Jesus’ command in John 21:16: “Feed my sheep.”

2. Humility and Trust in Suffering (1 Peter 5:5-7)

Peter calls both leaders and the flock to humility, urging them to submit to one another and to God. C.S. Lewis famously said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” This humility positions us to cast our anxieties on God, knowing He cares for us.

Derek Prince emphasizes that casting our burdens on God is an act of trust: “When you cast your cares upon Him, you are acknowledging His sovereignty and your dependence on Him.” Similarly, Rick Warren points out, “God’s care is constant. It’s not occasional or sporadic. He is always watching over you.”

3. Spiritual Vigilance Against the Enemy (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Peter warns of the devil, who prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour. Believers are urged to resist him by standing firm in faith. Alexander Maclaren highlights the importance of this vigilance: “The Christian life is not a playground but a battlefield. Watchfulness is a perpetual necessity.”

David Guzik explains, “Satan’s attacks are fierce, but they are not irresistible. The strength to stand comes from the God of  all grace.” N.T. Wright adds, “We resist the devil by remembering that we stand not alone but as part of a worldwide fellowship of believers.”

4. God’s Grace and Restoration (1 Peter 5:10-11)

In the midst of suffering, Peter reminds believers that God will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish them. This assurance echoes Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

John Calvin reflects, “God allows suffering to refine His people, but He never leaves them in the fire longer than necessary.” Similarly, Henri Nouwen writes, “In the midst of suffering, God does not abandon us but draws us closer to His heart.”

Dallas Willard underscores the transformative power of suffering: “Pain is often where the deepest growth in Christ takes place.”

5. The Call to Leadership and Endurance

Walter Brueggemann notes that Peter’s message is deeply pastoral: “The call to shepherd God’s people is a call to walk alongside them, offering hope and direction in the wilderness of suffering.”

Timothy Keller reminds leaders and believers alike that “The gospel gives us the resources to face suffering with joy, knowing that Christ suffered for us and now walks with us.” Leaders must guide with humility and courage, trusting in God’s ultimate plan.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being our Chief Shepherd, guiding us through every trial. Help us to walk humbly, casting our cares upon You and resisting the enemy with firm faith. Strengthen our leaders to serve with love and integrity, reflecting Christ’s care for His flock. May we trust in Your grace and restoration, knowing You are with us always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria

From Death to Life

Breathing New Life

The Valley of Dry Bones

God’s Power to Restore

Hope in God’s Spirit and Promise

The God Who Restores

A Vision of Renewal and Unity

New Life for Dry Bones

The Transformative Power of God’s Spirit

Reflections on Ezekiel 37

Ezekiel 37 stands as one of the most vivid and hope-filled passages in Scripture, presenting a vision of God’s ability to restore life to what appears utterly dead. Through the imagery of dry bones coming to life and the uniting of two sticks, God promises physical, spiritual, and communal restoration for His people. This vision offers encouragement not only for the exiles of Ezekiel’s time but for believers today who long for renewal in their own lives, churches, and communities.

The Valley of Dry Bones: A Vision of Restoration (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

In the vision, Ezekiel is led by God to a valley filled with dry bones, symbolizing Israel’s spiritual death in exile. God’s question to Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” invites reflection on the seemingly impossible. As Matthew Henry observes, “We are not only naturally dead in sin, but spiritually dry, barren, and lifeless; yet God can raise us to newness of life by His Spirit.”

Eugene Peterson reminds us that God’s power transforms desolation into vitality. “Ezekiel spoke God’s word over the bones, and life stirred where there was only death. This is what God does with His word and Spirit.”

Charles Spurgeon emphasizes that the Word of God must be faithfully proclaimed even in seemingly hopeless situations: “Preach to the bones; for while human effort is useless, God’s power is sufficient.” David Guzik notes that the breath entering the bones mirrors the breath of life given at creation, illustrating God’s ongoing creative and redemptive power.

Unity in Restoration: The Two Sticks (Ezekiel 37:15-28)

The second part of the chapter depicts two sticks, symbolizing the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, being joined together into one. This unity points to God’s ultimate plan for reconciliation and harmony among His people. C.I. Scofield writes, “The two sticks represent not only the reunification of Israel but also the greater unity of God’s people under Christ.”

Walter Brueggemann highlights that this vision points to both historical and eschatological hope: “The restoration is both a present call to faithfulness and a future promise of God’s ultimate reign.”

John Calvin underscores the Messianic promise in verses 24-25: “David’s greater Son will unite His people under one banner, shepherding them in righteousness and peace.” N.T. Wright echoes this, connecting the prophecy to the work of Christ, the true King who reconciles and restores.

Applications for Today

The dry bones of Ezekiel’s vision remind us that no situation is beyond God’s power to renew. Churches, families, and individuals may feel lifeless or fragmented, but God specializes in bringing life where there is death. Derek Prince writes, “When God’s Spirit moves, revival is inevitable; He breathes life into what was once dead.”

Blaise Pascal reflects that “God’s power to restore is not limited by human weakness but magnified by it.” Rick Warren encourages believers to pray boldly for renewal: “God can take what is broken and make it beautiful. But it begins with our willingness to ask for His Spirit to move.”

As C.S. Lewis puts it, “Miracles are not the suspension of the natural order but the restoration of it.” The miracle of restoration in Ezekiel 37 is a testament to God’s desire to make all things new through the Spirit.

Short Prayer

Lord, You are the God who brings life to dry bones and restores hope to the hopeless. Breathe Your Spirit into us and into Your church. Unite us in love and faith under Christ, our King. May we live as a testimony to Your power and faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria

A New Heart and a New Spirit

God’s Promise of Restoration

From Ruins to Renewal

God’s Transformative Work in Israel and Us

God’s Glory and Our New Beginning

Restoration and Renewal

The God Who Makes All Things New

Reflections on Ezekiel 36

Ezekiel 36 is a profound chapter that unveils God’s heart for restoration—not just for His people Israel but for all who turn to Him in faith. It reveals His sovereignty, His holiness, and His unwavering commitment to His promises. Through Ezekiel, God speaks hope to a discouraged people in exile, assuring them that what seems impossible to man is entirely possible with Him.

God’s Concern for His Name (Ezekiel 36:21-23)

God’s first priority in this passage is His holy name. As Matthew Henry notes, “The profanation of God’s name is an injury to His glory; His people’s sins have brought dishonor upon Him, but He will sanctify His name by sanctifying them.” God’s restoration of Israel is not merely for their benefit but to display His glory and faithfulness before all nations.

N.T. Wright adds that God’s redemptive plan always aims at the reconciliation of the world to Himself. The restoration of Israel foreshadows the ultimate redemption in Christ, where God’s glory is fully revealed to the nations.

A Promise of Restoration (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

God promises to cleanse His people, give them a new heart, and place His Spirit within them. This spiritual renewal speaks of the new covenant, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Charles Spurgeon highlights, “What a change is here! From a stone-cold heart to a tender, responsive one; from rebellion to obedience. This is the work of divine grace.”

David Guzik points out that this transformation is both individual and corporate. God restores His people not just physically to their land but spiritually to Himself. Calvin emphasizes that this new heart and spirit are the works of God’s sovereign grace, entirely unmerited by human effort.

The Call to Repentance (Ezekiel 36:31-32)

God calls His people to remember their sins, despise them, and repent. As Derek Kidner notes, “Repentance is not merely regret over consequences but a profound turning from sin to God.” Eugene Peterson echoes this, reminding us that repentance is essential to spiritual renewal: “Repentance prepares the way for God’s transformative power to take root in our lives.”

John Wesley stresses that repentance involves a holy sorrow that leads to a transformed life, while Blaise Pascal warns that callousness to sin deadens the soul, making repentance all the more urgent.

The Power of Prayer (Ezekiel 36:37-38)

God invites His people to ask for His help, promising to hear and respond. Martin Lloyd-Jones writes, “The greatest hindrance to prayer is not God’s unwillingness to act but our unwillingness to ask.” Rick Warren encourages believers, saying, “Prayer is the key that unlocks God’s blessings. He waits for us to ask so He can pour out His mercy and grace.”

Walter Brueggemann reflects on the communal aspect of prayer in this passage: God’s promise to multiply His people and make them flourish is a call to collective intercession and trust in His faithfulness.

Application for Today

Ezekiel 36 reminds us that God is in the business of making all things new. His promise to give a new heart and His Spirit is fulfilled in Christ, who cleanses us and transforms us into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). Timothy Keller reminds us, “Only through the gospel can we truly change—not through moral effort but by grace.”

For believers, the call is clear: represent God faithfully in the world, repent of sin, and trust in His transforming power. As C.S. Lewis puts it, “God is not merely mending, not simply restoring a ruined world. He is creating all things new.”

Short Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of restoration and renewal. Cleanse our hearts, fill us with Your Spirit, and empower us to live for Your glory. Help us to repent of sin and trust in Your transforming grace. May our lives reflect Your holiness and love to the world around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria