The guy speaking in our church today was talking about the Hebrew roots of our faith, pointing out that we believe in both the old and new testament, and that the beliefs we hold as new covenant believers are contained in the old testament as well as the new.  He pointed out a parallel between John 1 and Genesis 1, both of which have a poetic introduction about God.  In Genesis 1, creation happened by the words of God.  In John 1 Jesus, Gods son, is referred to as the word.  He is the word become flesh.  So there is the obvious parallel between these two pieces of scripture which span decades or even centuries of time. 
Well I have spotted another parallel.  Ezekiel 34 talks about shepherds and sheep and I believe reveals the heart of Matthew 5, Jesus first/only sermon, posthumously entitled the Beatitudes.  In Ez34 we read about what God thinks about the shepherds of his people (and it's not good), and he says he is going to shepherd them himself, because of how selfish and self seeking the shepherds have been.  He says "I will search for the sheep and look after them".."I will rescue them from the places where they were scattered".  "I will bring them out from the nations"  "and I will bring them into their own land".  "I will tend them in a good pasture".  "They will lie down in good grazing land".  "I myself will tend my sheep and make them lie down".  Its all tender stuff to the ones who have been oppressed.  And we get a glimpse into the types of people he is interested in caring for and bringing onto himself.
-"I will search for the lost and bring back the strays"
-"I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak"
-"But the sleek and the strong I will destroy"
From these phrases we can figures out the ones God is for.  He's for the scattered, the displaced, the nation-less, those that need to lie down, the lost, the strays, the injured and the weak.  And in his justice he's not for the strong and the sleek.  Why is this.  Well because the sleek and strong are self sufficient, and don't need him.  They have plenty.  God is into the needy, not the needless.

In MA5 Jesus is telling a crowd who are the blessed ones among them by heavens standards.  And these are, wait for it;  the poor in spirit.  Ie those who are poor in the things of God.  Those who mourn, the meek.  Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.  The merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers.  And those who are persecuted.  What do you know, God hasn't changed.  So if you are in any of those categories, good for you.  I just wish I was more at ease with myself to be able to express my own needy-ness and weakness.  Its what he wants from us.  Our honesty and truthfulness.  To seek him in spirit and truth as we are not as professional have it all together believers.  God come and help us.  Move us from here to where you want us to be.  We want you and need you.  Move is us Lord!!!