Ezekiel 37: The Covenant of Peace
This is a famous chapter, and its
context also matters. In Ezek 34-36, the prophet has spoken of the nation
lacking shepherds and promises that he will supply the guidance and protection
that is lacking. In Ezek 36, the promise has been made that God will bring the
Spirit into their hearts having washed them from their uncleanness (36:24-31).
This will happen as he gathers them into the land, and they realize the depths
of their previous sin! There follows in Ezek 37:1-10 the famous image of the
dry bones brought back to life, a picture of Israel being resurrected from
death. It is a powerful image of restoration. We move from despair to hope within
the vision of the chapter. Again, we see the idea that exile and judgment for
the nation does not lead to ultimate exclusion.
The picture of the dry bones
vision is interpreted in Ezek 37:11-14, where the bones are the whole house of
Israel and the promise of providing the Spirit is repeated in v. 14 with
mention of the land yet again in v. 12. This shows the link back to Ezek 34-36.
Ezekiel pictures two sticks, one for Ephraim and another for Judah that are
made one as he regathers the people scattered across the earth and beings them
again to the land (vv. 15-22). He will make them his people again and he will
have one shepherds and they will dwell in the land (vv. 24-25). Ezekiel calls
this a covenant of peace, yet another promise of God that he commits himself to
keeping in the land (v. 26). He will dwell with them, and they will be his
people (v. 27). Even the nations will see this is so (v. 28). So the vision
contains elements that show Israel and not the nations are the topic here.
This last verse is important because
it makes clear that the nations see how God treats Israel in distinction from
the nations. In whatever way nations are blessed in the end, their blessing
does not exclude a place or role for Israel. Gentile inclusion does not mean
Israelite exclusion. God has commitments he has made to the nation. That promise
began with Abraham and extends to Ezekiel. That restoration comes with a
promised Davidic ruler and includes peace in the land. This hope could not be
clearer. It is made with and is for Israel, a regathered and restored nation,
even as God also works to restore the nations of the earth. (Darrell L. Bock, “Israel’s Future as a
Nation and Reconciliation,” in The Future Restoration of Israel: A Response
to Supersessionism, ed. Stanley E. Porter and Alan E. Kurschner [McMaster
Biblical Studies Series 10; Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 2023], 94-95)
