The Covenant Of Peace (Ezekiel 37:24-28, Luke 2:1-14)
Rev. William L. Barron, December 11, 2022Part of the Advent Series: Christ Coming To Build His Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Ezekiel Chapter 37 concerns the familiar vision of the valley of dry bones. Ezekiel was a contemporary of Jeremiah, with messages concerning the downfall of the southern kingdom. Later in the chapter, Ezekiel receives the word of God that under the restoration, Israel and Judah will be joined to become "one stick." One king shall rule over all as a shepherd, namely David's greater son, Jesus Christ, who will lead them into righteousness. While the people failed, yet God was faithful to His promise. They shall dwell in the land of promise in an everlasting covenant of peace. This is solely be action of God. The covenant of peace described here in vs. 26 is the same as the everlasting covenant of grace which began in eternity past, fulfilled in Christ as a new covenant in His blood. In our time, we make two mistakes when looking at Old Testament prophecy: we forget the message for the past and we ignore the message addressed to the future. Ezekiel's message for the past was the liberation from exile in Babylon. His message for the future is what God is going to do in the Covenant of Peace. The Old Testament references many covenants, which are different administrations of the Covenant of Grace, fulfilled in Christ's blood. These administrations were brought through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Moses. Through these, God brought cleansing and wrote obedience in the hearts of His people. The one nation Ezekiel describes in vs. 22 points to the church of Jesus Christ, the administration of the Covenant of Peace for all nations, yet a peace that is much different from the world's definition of peace. Truth is the hallmark of peace, and where there is no truth, there is no peace.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « A Great Joy | None | The Perfect Gift » |
Ezekiel 37:24–28 (Listen)
24 “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”
(ESV)
Luke 2:1–14 (Listen)
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
(ESV)