34:17-31 The whole nation seemed to be the Lord's flock, yet they were very different characters; but he knew how to distinguish between them. By good pastures and deep waters, are meant the pure word of God and the dispensing of justice. The latter verses, 23-31, prophesy of Christ, and of the most glorious times of his church on earth. Under Him, as the good Shepherd, the church would be a blessing to all around. Christ, though excellent in himself, was as a tender plant out of a dry ground. Being the Tree of life, bearing all the fruits of salvation, he yields spiritual food to the souls of his people. Our constant desire and prayer should be, that there may be showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is preached; and that all who profess the gospel may be filled with fruits of righteousness.
And they shall no more be a prey to the Heathen,.... To the Papists, who shall now be perished out of the land, Psalm 10:16,
neither shall, the beasts of the land devour them; neither that beast which rose up out of the sea, nor that which came up out of the earth, Revelation 13:1, the pope, both in his secular and ecclesiastic power, being destroyed. So the Targum,
"and the kingdoms of the earth shall not consume them;''
the antichristian kingdoms:
but they, shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid; See Gill on Ezekiel 34:25; See Gill on Ezekiel 34:27.
neither shall, the beasts of the land devour them; neither that beast which rose up out of the sea, nor that which came up out of the earth, Revelation 13:1, the pope, both in his secular and ecclesiastic power, being destroyed. So the Targum,
"and the kingdoms of the earth shall not consume them;''
the antichristian kingdoms:
but they, shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid; See Gill on Ezekiel 34:25; See Gill on Ezekiel 34:27.