Ezekiel 37:26
And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever.
I will make a covenant of peace with them
The phrase "I will make a covenant of peace with them" signifies God's promise of restoration and reconciliation with His people. The Hebrew word for "covenant" is "berit," which implies a binding agreement or promise. In the biblical context, covenants are significant as they represent God's unbreakable promises to His people. This "covenant of peace" is not merely the absence of conflict but a holistic peace, "shalom," encompassing well-being, prosperity, and harmony with God. Historically, this promise would have been particularly poignant for the Israelites, who had experienced exile and turmoil. It reflects God's unwavering commitment to restore His people to a state of spiritual and physical wholeness.

it will be an everlasting covenant
The term "everlasting covenant" emphasizes the perpetual nature of God's promise. The Hebrew word "olam" is used here, which can mean eternal or perpetual. This covenant is not temporary or conditional but is intended to last forever. In the conservative Christian perspective, this everlasting covenant is often seen as fulfilled in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, who brings eternal peace and reconciliation between God and humanity. This assurance of an unending relationship with God provides hope and stability, transcending the temporal challenges faced by believers.

I will establish them and multiply them
The promise "I will establish them and multiply them" speaks to God's intention to firmly root His people and cause them to flourish. The Hebrew word for "establish" is "qum," which means to rise, stand, or be confirmed. This suggests a divine action of making the people secure and steadfast. "Multiply" comes from the Hebrew "rabah," indicating increase and abundance. This reflects the Abrahamic promise of numerous descendants and blessings. Historically, this would have been a reassurance to the exiled Israelites of their future growth and prosperity. Spiritually, it signifies the growth of God's kingdom and the expansion of His people through faith.

and I will set My sanctuary among them forever
The phrase "and I will set My sanctuary among them forever" highlights God's desire to dwell with His people. The Hebrew word for "sanctuary" is "miqdash," referring to a holy place or temple. This promise indicates not just a physical temple but God's presence among His people. The use of "forever" underscores the eternal nature of this divine presence. In the historical context, the temple was central to Israel's worship and identity, and its destruction was devastating. This promise of a perpetual sanctuary offers hope of restored communion with God. In the Christian interpretation, this is seen as fulfilled through Jesus, who is the ultimate temple, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, making believers themselves a living sanctuary. This assurance of God's eternal presence is a source of comfort and strength for the faithful.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the mouthpiece of God, delivering messages of both judgment and hope to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecy, they are in exile in Babylon, longing for restoration and a return to their homeland.

3. Babylon
The place of exile for the Israelites, representing both physical and spiritual captivity.

4. Covenant of Peace
A divine promise from God to His people, signifying restoration, blessing, and a future hope.

5. God's Sanctuary
Symbolizes God's presence among His people, indicating a restored relationship and divine favor.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Covenant of Peace
The "covenant of peace" is a divine promise that transcends temporary circumstances, offering eternal hope and restoration.

The Everlasting Nature of God's Promises
God's promises are not bound by time; they are everlasting, providing assurance and stability to believers.

The Significance of God's Presence
God's sanctuary among His people signifies His desire for a close, personal relationship with them, offering guidance, protection, and blessing.

Multiplication and Establishment
God's promise to "multiply" and "establish" His people speaks to His intention to bless them abundantly and secure their future.

Application in Modern Life
Believers today can find comfort in God's unchanging promises, trusting in His presence and provision in their lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of a "covenant of peace" in Ezekiel 37:26 relate to the new covenant mentioned in the New Testament?

2. In what ways can we experience God's "sanctuary" or presence in our daily lives today?

3. How does understanding the everlasting nature of God's promises impact your faith and trust in Him?

4. What are some practical ways you can seek to establish and multiply God's presence in your community?

5. How can the promise of God's peace and presence in Ezekiel 37:26 encourage you during times of personal exile or difficulty?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 31:31-34
This passage speaks of a new covenant, similar to the "everlasting covenant" mentioned in Ezekiel, highlighting God's promise to write His law on the hearts of His people.

Isaiah 54:10
This verse echoes the theme of a covenant of peace, emphasizing God's unchanging love and commitment to His people.

Revelation 21:3
This New Testament passage reflects the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to dwell among His people, as seen in Ezekiel's prophecy.
Union Essential to Highest ProsperityJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 37:15-28
UnityJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 37:15-28
The Blessed KingdomW. Clarkson Ezekiel 37:21-28
People
Azariah, David, Ezekiel, Hosea, Israelites, Jacob, Joseph, Meshach
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Age, Age-during, Agreement, Bless, Covenant, Establish, Eternal, Everlasting, Evermore, Forever, Forevermore, Holy, Increase, Mercy, Midst, Moreover, Multiplied, Multiply, Numbers, Peace, Placed, Sanctuary
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 37:15-28

     4514   stick

Ezekiel 37:21-28

     5089   David, significance

Ezekiel 37:24-28

     6703   peace, divine OT

Ezekiel 37:25-27

     1352   covenant, the new

Ezekiel 37:26-28

     5029   knowledge, of God
     7922   fellowship, with God
     8271   holiness, purpose
     8272   holiness, growth in

Library
The Dry Bones and the Spirit of Life
1. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2. And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3. And He said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, Thou knowest. 4. Again He said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5. Thus
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Come from the Four Winds, O Breath!
"Thou wilt say unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."--Ezekiel 37:9. ACCORDING to some commentators, this vision in the valley of dry bones may refer to three forms of resurrection. Holy Scripture is so marvellously full of meaning, that one interpretation seldom exhausts its message to us. The chapter before us is an excellent example of this fact; and supplies
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

1879-1880. Experiences among Indians --Picnic in the Bush --Distribution of Testaments --"Till He Come" --"A Home and a Hearty Welcome. "
Experiences among Indians--Picnic in the Bush--Distribution of Testaments--"Till He come"--"A Home and a hearty Welcome." Once more in Canada, Miss Macpherson records experience of an unusual kind:-- "In one of the large villages we visited, an all-day prayer-meeting was held from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M., which proved a season of rich blessing. We found openings for mission work all around, farmers and their families willing to gather and sit any length of time with Bible and hymn-book in hand. We feel
Clara M. S. Lowe—God's Answers

The Shepherd of Our Souls.
"I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep."--John x. 11. Our Lord here appropriates to Himself the title under which He had been foretold by the Prophets. "David My servant shall be king over them," says Almighty God by the mouth of Ezekiel: "and they all shall have one Shepherd." And in the book of Zechariah, "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man that is My fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts; smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Covenant of Grace
Q-20: DID GOD LEAVE ALL MANKIND TO PERISH 1N THE ESTATE OF SIN AND MISERY? A: No! He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver the elect out of that state, and to bring them into a state of grace by a Redeemer. 'I will make an everlasting covenant with you.' Isa 55:5. Man being by his fall plunged into a labyrinth of misery, and having no way left to recover himself, God was pleased to enter into a new covenant with him, and to restore him to life by a Redeemer. The great proposition I shall go
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Struggler;
CONTAINING THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER IN WHICH MR. BUNYAN'S BOOKS WERE PUBLISHED, AND THE NUMBER OF EDITIONS THEY PASSED THROUGH DURING HIS LIFE. THIRTY REASONS WHY CHRISTIAN PEOPLE SHOULD PROMOTE THEIR CIRCULATION, AND THE STRUGGLER FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THESE LABOURS.--PUBLISHED IN 1691. BY CHARLES DOE, ONE OF MR. BUNYAN'S PERSONAL FRIENDS. A CATALOGUE-TABLE OF MR. BUNYAN'S BOOKS. AND THEIR SUCCESSION IN PUBLISHING, MOST ACCORDING TO HIS OWN RECKONING. Note.--Those that are in Italic letter are
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Let us Now Examine the Conditions under which a Revelation May be Expected To...
2. Let us now examine the conditions under which a revelation may be expected to be given to the original recipients. It may be observed in the first place that a revelation must possess some distinctive character. Even, if it should turn out that there is no such thing in reality at all, at least the notion which we form in our minds must possess such points of difference as to distinguish it from all other notions. It appears needful to bear this in mind, obvious though it is, because there
Samuel John Jerram—Thoughts on a Revelation

The Disciple, -- Master, Some People Say that the Comfort and Joy that Believers Experience...
The Disciple,--Master, some people say that the comfort and joy that believers experience are simply the outcome of their own thoughts and ideas. Is this true? The Master,--1. That comfort and abiding peace which believers have within themselves is due to My presence in their hearts, and to the life-giving influence of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. As for those who say that this spiritual joy is the result only of the thoughts of the heart, they are like a foolish man who was blind from his birth,
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

How Shall the Soul Make Use of Christ, as the Life, which is under the Prevailing Power of Unbelief and Infidelity.
That we may help to give some clearing to a poor soul in this case, we shall, 1. See what are the several steps and degrees of this distemper. 2. Consider what the causes hereof are. 3. Shew how Christ is life to a soul in such a case; and, 4. Give some directions how a soul in that case should make use of Christ as the Life, to the end it may be delivered therefrom. And, first, There are many several steps to, and degrees of this distemper. We shall mention a few; as, 1. When they cannot come
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

What Messiah did the Jews Expect?
1. The most important point here is to keep in mind the organic unity of the Old Testament. Its predictions are not isolated, but features of one grand prophetic picture; its ritual and institutions parts of one great system; its history, not loosely connected events, but an organic development tending towards a definite end. Viewed in its innermost substance, the history of the Old Testament is not different from its typical institutions, nor yet these two from its predictions. The idea, underlying
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
Eighteen and a half centuries ago, and the land which now lies desolate--its bare, grey hills looking into ill-tilled or neglected valleys, its timber cut down, its olive- and vine-clad terraces crumbled into dust, its villages stricken with poverty and squalor, its thoroughfares insecure and deserted, its native population well-nigh gone, and with them its industry, wealth, and strength--presented a scene of beauty, richness, and busy life almost unsurpassed in the then known world. The Rabbis never
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, that we May Get Our Case and Condition Cleared up to Us.
The believer is oft complaining of darkness concerning his case and condition, so as he cannot tell what to say of himself, or what judgment to pass on himself, and he knoweth not how to win to a distinct and clear discovery of his state and condition. Now, it is truth alone, and the Truth, that can satisfy them as to this. The question then is, how they shall make use of, and apply themselves to this truth, to the end they may get the truth of their condition discovered to them. But first let us
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Prayer.
A man may pray night and day, and yet deceive himself; but no man can be assured of his sincerity who does not pray. Prayer is faith passing into act; a union of the will and the intellect realising in an intellectual act. It is the whole man that prays. Less than this is wishing, or lip-work; a charm or a mummery. PRAY ALWAYS, says the apostle: that is, have the habit of prayer, turning your thoughts into acts by connecting them with the idea of the redeeming God, and even so reconverting your
Samuel Taylor Coleridge—Confessions of an Inquiring Spirit etc

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit as Revealed in his Names.
At least twenty-five different names are used in the Old and New Testaments in speaking of the Holy Spirit. There is the deepest significance in these names. By the careful study of them, we find a wonderful revelation of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. I. The Spirit. The simplest name by which the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Bible is that which stands at the head of this paragraph--"The Spirit." This name is also used as the basis of other names, so we begin our study with this.
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

Meditations of the Blessed State of the Regenerate Man after Death.
This estate has three degrees:--1st, From the day of death to the resurrection; 2d, From the resurrection to the pronouncing of the sentence; 3d, After the sentence, which lasts eternally. As soon as ever the regenerate man hath yielded up his soul to Christ, the holy angels take her into their custody, and immediately carry her into heaven (Luke xvi. 22), and there present her before Christ, where she is crowned with a crown of righteousness and glory; not which she hath deserved by her good works,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
[In the Prospectus of our Publication it was stated, that one discourse, at least, would be given in each number. A strict adherence to this arrangement, however, it is found, would exclude from our pages some of the most talented discourses of our early Divines; and it is therefore deemed expedient to depart from it as occasion may require. The following Sermon will occupy two numbers, and we hope, that from its intrinsic value, its historical interest, and the illustrious name of its author, it
John Knox—The Pulpit Of The Reformation, Nos. 1, 2 and 3.

Greeks Seek Jesus. He Foretells that He Shall Draw all Men unto Him.
(in the Temple. Tuesday, April 4, a.d. 30.) ^D John XII. 20-50. ^d 20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast [The language indicates that they were Greek converts to Judaism, such as were called proselytes of the gate. It is also noted that as Gentiles came from the east at the beginning of Jesus' life, so they also came from the west at the close of his ministry]: 21 these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee [See p. 111. They were possibly
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
The fact of Covenanting, under the Old Testament dispensations, being approved of God, gives a proof that it was proper then, which is accompanied by the voice of prophecy, affording evidence that even in periods then future it should no less be proper. The argument for the service that is afforded by prophecy is peculiar, and, though corresponding with evidence from other sources, is independent. Because that God willed to make known truth through his servants the prophets, we should receive it
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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