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The thoughts of the people were of a negative fashion. They had no vision of the plan and purpose of the Lord. They expected to be like the heathen and continue to worship the gods of wood and stone. Gods created by man which were inferior to man, therefore not gods at all. Eze. 20:32 In spite of all that they had done in turning away from the Lord, He is still faithful and promised to bring them unto Himself, gathering them from the nations among whom He had scattered them. Demonstrating to them His exceeding great power and wrath. In bringing them unto Himself, He was to confront them face to face, at which time He would plead with them. It is not difficult to place the visit of the Messiah here for it was He who came to His own only to be rejected by them. John 1:11 Jesus dealt with Israel on a personal basis. He was the living Word appearing in the flesh of a man. They saw His mighty works and His love and care for mankind, yet cruelly rejected Him. John 1:14 His message was the call of the Almighty to be reconciled unto the Almighty. Those who listened to Him and His message found the cleansing and forgiveness of sin which may only be found in Him. Isa. 1:18
Those who would be the prized possession of the Lord would all pass under the rod. Eze. 20:37 An act performed by the shepherd as he returned his sheep to the sheepfold at the end of the day. As they passed under the rod they were counted that the shepherd might know that all had returned and none lost. Note Jer. 33:13 Missing just one, he would not leave that sheep outside the fold but would go and search diligently until he had found that one lost sheep. Mt. 18:12 Jesus Himself said that He was sent to rescue the lost sheep of Israel. Mt. 15:24 It is fitting to bestow the shepherd titles upon the Lord Jesus for He is revealed as the Good shepherd. John 10:11 The Great shepherd. Heb. 13:20 and as the Chief Shepherd. 1 Peter 5:4 He is likewise the Shepherd and Bishop of all who will come to Him. 1 Peter 2:25
The rod is that Branch, cut from the tree, thus becomes a type of the Word made flesh, the Lord Jesus. The rod becomes the example, the staff and helper to all who would walk in the ways of the Lord Jesus. The rod is vital to out spiritual welfare. Ps. 23:4 The rod is a teaching element used to instruct and correct. Prov. 13:24 It also is to become a measuring instrument used to measure the Bride of Christ. She is the eternal temple of the Lord. Rev. 11:1 A royal marriage will produce a line of true leadership which will become an everlasting heavenly order. Rev. 12:5 The only possible way into the eternal kingdom of the Lord is through the incorruptible seed, the Word of the Lord. 1 Pet. 1:23 Coming under the rod indicates a people whose life is lived according to the Word of the Lord.