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Question: Please comment on Ezekiel 34:2-6 (Who are these shepherds?); also taking into consideration verse 12 "The cloudy and dark day."

Answer: The shepherds spoken of in these verses would be those whom God had appointed to guide, care for, and feed His flock, the children of Israel. This would refer to their priests and prophets. Also in this case, since Israel's government was a combination of church and state, it might include their kings and rulers as well. These were all set over the children of Israel to seek their welfare and best interest and to guide them in both sacred and secular things. We get a good view of the Good Shepherd in the 23rd Psalm. We see the Good Shepherd here providing all the wants of His sheep, leading them to the still waters and providing for them security and sufficiency so that they lie down in peace in green pastures. He never forsakes His flock but is with them in trouble and adversity the same as in prosperity which is evidenced by His walking with them through the valley of the shadow of death. He always provides abundance for them even to the overflowing stage and sets them a table right in the presence of their enemies.

In John 10:11, Jesus declares Himself to be the Good Shepherd and declares that the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. Then in verse 12 He speaks of the hireling, whose own the sheep are not, and when he sees the wolf coming he leaves the sheep and fleeth; the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. Jesus further explained in verse 13 that the reason the hireling flees when danger and trouble threatens is because he is just a hireling and is primarily interested in his hire and temporal gain and does not care for the sheep.

Again in Luke 15:3-7, Jesus presents another graphic picture of a Good Shepherd looking after his sheep. He has a hundred sheep and one wanders away and gets lost. He leaves the ninety-nine in the fold and goes in search of the lost one until he finds it; then he puts it on his shoulder and carries it home. He cares for all his sheep and when one is in trouble, that is the one he seeks to help.

These shepherds spoken of in Ezekiel 34:2-6, were supposed to be like this and like the Good Shepherd of John 10:11, and the Shepherd featured in the twenty-third Psalm. But, oh, how different they were! They were like the hireling Jesus mentioned in John 10:12-13, and were looking after their own comforts and gain. They were entirely insensitive to the needs of the flock. They did not strengthen the diseased, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring back those who were driven away, nor seek that which was lost. They ruled with force and cruelty. They were totally unfaithful and entirely insensitive to their responsibility as shepherds of a flock. As a result, the sheep were scattered and wandered through all the mountains and high hills of the whole earth and became meat to be devoured by the beasts of the field. This all actually happened to the children of Israel again and again because of their wickedness and idolatry which was instigated by their priests, prophets, and rulers. It is also a type of what has happened to the people of God (spiritual Israel) during this gospel dispensation and has a second fulfillment there.

In Isaiah 9:16, we read, "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed." Again we read in Isaiah 3:12, "...O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." In Jeremiah 23, beginning with verse 9 is a strong indictment against the prophets and priests of Israel. Verse 11 says, "For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord." We also read in verse 13, "And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err." Clear on down through verse 32 God is strongly proclaiming against the prophets who prophesy in His name declaring that "the Lord hath said," but they prophesy lies and falsehoods.

The awful consequences of all this false prophesying and the profanity among priests and prophets are found in Jeremiah 14:13-16, which I will insert here. "Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword;..." It becomes apparent here that the people who listen to the prophets who prophesy falsehoods and offer security in those falsehoods and doctrines that are not according to God's Word, shall become victims of those prophets (be devoured by the beasts of the field the false prophets) and share the same fate with them.

In Hosea 5:10 it says, "The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water." A few other texts regarding landmarks and bounds will add a little emphasis to this text where it says "The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound." When the Israelites entered into Canaan land, everyone received an inheritance consisting of a piece of land secured by bounds and landmarks. This was to remain in that family throughout their generation. This inheritance was considered such a valuable and sacred thing that the daughters of one tribe were forbidden to marry into another tribe because it would affect their inheritance which was not transferable to any other tribe. In Deuteronomy 27:17 a curse was pronounced upon anyone who tampered with the landmark and altered the bounds of his neighbor's field. Also read Proverbs 22:28 and Deuteronomy 19:14. We see this was a very strong charge against the princes of Judah who were like them that removed the bound. The princes of Judah would be their prophets, priests, and rulers. They had tampered with God's Word and law, and prophesied falsely to the people and led them into error and idolatry, and God's wrath was against them.

This whole discussion describes the class and condition of the shepherds in Ezekiel 34, and the awful consequences of their lordship over the people. It will be necessary to wait until another time to consider the other part of the question, "the cloudy and dark day."

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Question: What should be the position of the Church of God and saints in general in regard to ministers and gospel workers who willingly submit themselves into the hands of doctors and go to hospitals or resort to medicines? Would it be thought conceivable that God would instruct such an one to submit to doctors, etc.?

Answer: Divine healing has been a fundamental, cardinal doctrine of the Church of God from its inception on the Day of Pentecost and throughout this dispensation of time down to now. In Act. 5:12 we read of many signs and wonders being wrought among the people by the hands of the apostles. Verse 15 tells of them bringing forth the sick and laying them on beds and couches in the street in order that the shadow of Peter might pass over them that they might be healed. Verse 16 tells of many people from the cities roundabout bringing their sick folks into Jerusalem, and they were every one healed. The Church started out this way, and everywhere the gospel of the kingdom has been preached, both then and all along through the ages of time until now, it has been accompanied by healing of the sick. The preaching of the gospel and divine healing have always gone hand in hand they are actually components one of another.

The doctrine of divine healing was taught and practiced by all the early ministers of this Evening Light Reformation, and is still taught and practiced by the true ministers of God today. My parents were both among the early pioneer ministers of the Evening Light Reformation, and I had first hand knowledge from them as to how this doctrine was taught and practiced among them. They taught that saints should trust God with their bodies as well as their souls, and it was God's will and plan to heal His people without the aid of doctors and medicines in answer to the prayer of faith. This has been the code that true saints of God have lived by throughout this age of time. God has set His seal to it, and has healed every kind of sickness and disease in the books, and has confirmed the preaching of this doctrine with signs following.

It has always been considered substandard for saints in light to resort to medical remedies and treatment, and still is. There are too many among us today going to hospitals and dying there in the hands of the doctors. This is not according to God's Word. Because of this, we are being robbed of victories and the manifestation of God's power and glory in our midst. But when ministers do these things, what shall we say? What can we say in behalf of those who have persevered in their faith, died in the faith, and refused to accept deliverance from pain, sickness, and death by human aid in order to please God and hold their integrity with Him? Consider the young saints who have laid their lives on the line to trust God and be faithful to Him in times of severe and potentially fatal sickness young mothers and fathers trusting God with their families as well as their own lives, and have persevered and gone down to the bars of death trusting in the Lord. Then God came and healed them, raised them up, and now they sit in the service listening to someone preach who has been in the hospital and maybe had an operation, etc. What shall we say; what can we say to people like that in such a case? Folks, it cannot be that we would ever represent folks as being in good standing who do these things and lower the standard of truth in this way until they have properly cleared themselves.

F. G. Smith, in his book What the Bible Teaches, on page 197 (chapter ten, "Divine Healing"), says, "This blessed truth is established in the Word of God." Then he continues, "This doctrine has been ignored by many; but 'what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?' (Romans 3:3.) It is not what men believe or do not believe that is to settle the great facts of truth, but it is what the Word of God says."

The healing which was to characterize the life of Jesus Christ was prophesied in Isaiah 35:3-6, Isaiah 53:4-5, and in many other Old Testament scriptures. These prophecies of Isaiah were declared to be fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus in Matthew 8:16-17 where it says, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." And we also read in Matthew 4:24, "And his (Jesus') fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy: and he healed them."

Jesus also delegated this power and authority to cast out devils, heal the sick, and preach the kingdom of God when He sent forth His twelve disciples (Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:12-13). He also delegated this same power and authority to seventy others when He sent them forth in Luke 10:1-9. In fact, Jesus delegated to the Church, His body, and especially its ministry, this power and authority to heal the sick and cast out devils, as well as other miraculous things. This was a permanent arrangement throughout this gospel age of time. The commission as given in Mark 16:15-18, states this: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;... And these signs shall follow them that believe;... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Do we believe that the part of Jesus' commission which says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" is still in effect today? Surely, we do. But what foundation do we have for believing this and not believe also that part of the same commission which says that they who believe "shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" is also in effect today? Surely, the commission that Jesus gave shall stand in its entirety in all of its parts until the end of the world. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to day, and for ever."

In James 5:14-15, we read these instructions to the Church after it was set up and operating: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;..."

Yes, the doctrine of divine healing is well founded in the Holy Scriptures throughout. This is what God's ministers are to preach and teach to the people. But if we are going to preach it, we must also practice it and demonstrate its work ability. The Word of God says, "The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits." II Timothy 2:6. The ministers are to be ensamples to the flock (I Peter 5:3); teach them what to do and then show them how to do it.

This doctrine taught so general and generously throughout the New Testament is being grossly corrupted in our day. We have a parallel of this in the corrupting of the gospel in regard to salvation in the New Testament. Paul was preaching the pure gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ only without any human works attached to it. The Judaizers in Paul's day accepted Christ as the Messiah, but they connected to that circumcision and the works of the law, without which they said people could not be saved. This was a corruption of the pure gospel of salvation which Paul was preaching, and it was in this area that he had his greatest conflicts. In II Corinthians 2:17 Paul declared himself to be not of the number which corrupted the Word of God.

We have the same principle at work here in our day in corrupting the Word of God with regard to the doctrine of healing. It is held that God gave us physicians and gave them skill, knowledge, and understanding of the human body to be able to help us in our sicknesses. Oh, of course, we say, they have their limits, but they do what they can do and then God does the actual healing. Is this not the same corrupting principle that Paul encountered in his day regarding salvation? But I say, if God has to do the real healing in the final analysis of the case, why not let Him do it all in the first place and not get any human works mixed in with it? Let God get all the glory and we get all the inspiration and blessing that comes with this work of God upon us. This is God's plan and purpose for bringing about a closer relationship between His children and Himself.