A Covenant of Peace for All Who Will Enter In
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1/11/23
What does God mean by a Covenant of Peace? As I sought to understand I knew I had to look at the scriptures before Ezekiel 34:25 to find who He is talking to. Of course, the text references Israel and as believers we recognize He has not forgotten His promises to them. But we too, can claim the promises of God because we have been grafted in. Kenneth Hagin said: “The Lord explained, ‘Israel was not born again; they were not the Church in the same sense you are. You have become children of God—actually the sons of God.’” I Believe In Visions (p. 70). Faith Library Publications.
Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: “Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.” Ezekiel 34:20-22.
God said He will make a Covenant of Peace with His flock; those that have been tossed aside or out by shepherds who have ill motives and those shepherds that have not shepherded the flock correctly. In fact, He will make a Covenant of Peace with each of His neglected sheep. I am one of those sheep. For whatever reason, God has not chosen to give me a new church and so, I take these verses in scripture literally that He is my Shepherd and I learn directly from Him.
I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David (a reference to Jesus). He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.” Ezekiel 34:23-24.
Let’s look at the opening promise: Ezekiel 34:25 “I will make a Covenant of Peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. Hmm, wild beasts! I sense the Lord is speaking protection from false shepherds (wild beasts, ravenous wolves); the enemy (satan and his minions) and people (including institutions) with bad intentions (criminals, thieves); and the ungodly who will not repent, savages and animals in their hearts. He will protect us through the Covenant of Peace. And that’s just the first promise!
As I prayed further about this promise, I received Leviticus 26:6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid. Apparently, safety is a big issue with the Covenant! And there is more to this promise as it is repeated again in verse 28, And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid.
God showed me another angle by giving me 1 Peter 4:14: If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified. Those who come against us (under the covenant) will be ashamed, but if we remain faithful to the Covenant of Peace, a benefit (repentance and salvation) can come to those that have sought us harm.
Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10. The Covenant of Peace not only works for my good but for the good of those who have harmed me, this is not one sided. I am to turn those wild beasts (through prayer and forgiveness) into those who seek the Lord. Remember, the Forgiveness Project? I believe the Covenant of Peace is a continuation of forgiveness. Forgiveness Project.
The last thing I saw in verse 25 is “They will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods”. Huh? Okay, stay with me here. Remember I told you that the Lord wanted me to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (aka Sukkot*) and enter into a Covenant of Peace with Him on Oct. 10, 2022? It just so happens that the feast is also known as the Feast of Booths. Why, you might ask?
“It commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God protected them under difficult desert conditions. As a historical feast, its main characteristic is the requirement of Israel’s people to leave their homes and to dwell in temporary shelters or booths in the outdoors...celebrating their deliverance from Egypt and their protection, provision, and care by the hand of God during their 40 years in the wilderness.” What Is The Feast Of Booths In The Bible - BibleTalkClub.net
See how verse 25 ‘They will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods’ from the Covenant of Peace lines up with the Feast of Tabernacles aka Booths? Those who keep the Feast and enter into the covenant will dwell safely in the wilderness. I think too on a more personal level, God will keep us safe as we walk through our own wildernesses in life.
Amazing how God opens the scriptures to those who seek to know deeper revelation and for all who will enter in.
*"Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, was the greatest feast in Biblical times. Sukkot took place not in the beginning, but at the end of the Hebrew year - not in spring, but in the autumn. In the world, the party of youth, beauty, health, ability and power is at the beginning of life. In the autumn of life there's less celebrating because all those things only go downhill.
In God, it's the opposite. The biggest celebration comes at the end, in autumn. God saves the best for last. The things of the world always get worse and old and dry and fade away, but the things of God always get better. The peace of God as you move on, gets more peaceful. The life of God, the more you go on with it, becomes even more alive.
So, throw away that worldly pursuit. Pursue God and keep going even when it's tough, because God always saves the best for last. In God, it only gets better, and with God, the party comes in autumn."
