Ezekiel 34:25-26
“I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse promises a radical security where the people of God can finally rest in wild, untamed places. It's not just about removing external threats like literal beasts or enemies, but about a profound internal transformation that brings true peace, allowing them to sleep soundly even where danger once lurked.
This chapter has painted a grim picture of God's people as sheep scattered and devoured by their faithless leaders and enemies. Now, the Lord promises to intervene directly, acting as the true Shepherd who will gather his scattered flock and deliver them. This promise culminates in a renewed covenant, not just about earthly security, but a profound peace that will banish all threats, allowing them to live without fear, even in the wildest places.
What does it mean to make a 'covenant of peace' with God? It's more than just an absence of conflict.
When God says, 'I will make with them a covenant of peace,' He's not just talking about a truce.
A Covenant of Promises
This is a covenant of peace, meaning peace is the very content and guarantee of the agreement. It's a deep, abiding security that flows from God's faithfulness.
It echoes promises made long ago and points forward to an even greater reality. This peace isn't just about outward circumstances but an inner assurance, a gift that brings all good things because it's rooted in God's eternal plan and Christ's work.
Why does God promise to banish 'evil beasts'? What do these creatures represent in His plan?
The promise to 'banish wild beasts from the land' is a powerful image of security and restoration.
More Than Literal Animals
While it certainly includes the literal clearing of dangerous animals from the land, making it safe to traverse, the 'evil beasts' also represent deeper threats:
By removing these threats, God ensures His people can live without fear, fully experiencing the security of His protection.
Imagine sleeping in the woods, safe from danger. What does this extreme safety reveal about God's future kingdom?
Understand the original words
berith · Hebrew Noun
A formal, binding agreement between God and His people, established by His grace, characterized by promises of protection, presence, and relationship.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A state of wholeness, harmony, welfare, and prosperity granted by God, signifying the reconciliation between God and man and the absence of conflict.
betach · Hebrew Adverb/Noun
A state of safety, freedom from fear, and confidence in God’s protection, often contrasted with the vulnerability of being exposed to enemies.
berakah · Hebrew Noun
A divine gift or benefit bestowed upon people, often referring to God's favor, provision, and covenantal promises. It signifies the enjoyment of life and peace under God's rule.
The promise of a 'covenant of peace' and safety from wild beasts, spoken during the devastation of Jerusalem and the exile, powerfully contrasts the people's current reality of destruction and vulnerability with God's ultimate plan for restoration and secure dwelling under a new, divine King.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and repopulating the land with foreigners. This marks a significant loss of the land and the scattering of God's people.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting skilled workers and nobility, including figures like Daniel. This initiates a period of Babylonian dominance and exile.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Babylon deports more of Judah's population and its king, Jehoiachin. The land is left vulnerable and its people in despair.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This is the lowest point for the Judean people, seen as a divine abandonment.
This passage directly echoes Ezekiel's promise, foretelling a time when God's people will live securely in their land without fear of predators, highlighting a theme of divine protection and peace.
Isaiah 11:6-9This prophecy vividly describes a transformed natural world where predators and prey live together peacefully, directly illustrating the 'banish wild beasts' aspect of Ezekiel's promise and the resultant safety.
Hosea 2:18Similar to Ezekiel, Hosea speaks of God making a covenant of peace and causing harmful animals to cease, emphasizing the restorative and protective nature of God's relationship with His people.
Jeremiah 31:31-34While Ezekiel focuses on outward peace and safety, Jeremiah's prophecy of a 'new covenant' points to the internal transformation that makes such peace possible, where God's law is written on the heart.
Ezekiel 28:26This passage, also from Ezekiel, speaks of Israel dwelling securely and without fear once they are restored and cleansed, reinforcing the theme of safety and peace that comes from God's judgment and restoration.
pulpitEzekiel 34:25: "And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods."
Verse 25. - I will make with them a servant of peace. The whole verse is an echo of Leviticus 26:6, in part also of Hosea 2:20 [English version, ver. 18]. The words are less definite as to the nature of the covenant than those of Jeremiah 31:31, but probably the same thought underlies both. Sins are pardon…
jfbEzekiel 34:25: "And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods."
- covenant of peace … evil beasts … to cease … dwell safely—The original promise of the law (Le 26:6) shall be realized for the first time fully under Messiah (Isa 11:6-9; 35:9; Ho 2:18).
This verse promises a radical security where the people of God can finally rest in wild, untamed places. It's not just about removing external threats like literal beasts or enemies, but about a profound internal transformation that brings true peace, allowing them to sleep soundly even where danger once lurked.
This chapter has painted a grim picture of God's people as sheep scattered and devoured by their faithless leaders and enemies. Now, the Lord promises to intervene directly, acting as the true Shepherd who will gather his scattered flock and deliver them. This promise culminates in a renewed covenant, not just about earthly security, but a profound peace that will banish all threats, allowing them to live without fear, even in the wildest places.
This chapter has painted a grim picture of God's people as sheep scattered and devoured by their faithless leaders and enemies. Now, the Lord promises to intervene directly, acting as the true Shepherd who will gather his scattered flock and deliver them. This promise culminates in a renewed covenant, not just about earthly security, but a profound peace that will banish all threats, allowing them to live without fear, even in the wildest places.
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The promise that God's people will 'dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods' paints a picture of unparalleled safety.
Ultimate Security
This isn't just about being safe in a walled city or a guarded home. It's about finding absolute security even in the most exposed and dangerous places – the wilderness and the deep woods, the natural habitats of predators.
This speaks to a future restoration where God's people will live in perfect peace and confidence under His shepherding care. Their safety will be so complete that the fear of danger, even from wild animals or hidden threats, will be gone. It's a foretaste of the eternal security found in God's presence.
c. 593-571 BC
Ezekiel's Ministry in Exile
Ezekiel, an exile in Babylon, delivers prophetic messages of judgment and hope to the Judean community. This verse comes from his ministry during the height of their despair.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return to Judah
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the post-exilic period and a return to the land.
"“I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild beasts from the land, so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send d…" — This verse promises a radical security where the people of God can finally rest in wild, untamed places. It's not just about removing external threats like literal beasts or enemies, but about a prof…
