Eze 34:26 | KingComments | STEP | This last section describes the millennial realm of peace under the Messiah, Who is here called “My servant David” ( ). The LORD will raise up His Shepherd and entrust Him with His sheep. He is “the Chief Shepherd” Who is coming back ( ). He will care for the sheep and lead them. The LORD and His Shepherd have an equal care for the sheep. They are also essentially the same Person. The LORD is their God and the Servant is their Prince ( ; cf. ). So it is, for the LORD has declared it. The LORD confirms His verbal promise with a covenant ( ). This gives His sheep even more security. He makes with them “a covenant of peace”, a covenant that flows from the all-encompassing new covenant that characterizes the millennial realm of peace ( ). That covenant also ensures security. The harmful beasts, symbols of false leaders and hostile nations ( ), will be removed from the land by Him. Unconcerned they will live in the wilderness and undisturbed they will be able to sleep in the woods. Everything speaks of rest and peace, safety and security. There is also an abundance of blessing that comes over His people and over the area where they live ( ). “My hill” is Mount Zion, and the places around it is Israel. Through the rain that He gives, the trees will give their fruit and the land will give its yield ( ; cf. ; ). Once again, the LORD speaks of them being secure on their land without care. They will have rest and also freedom, for the LORD has removed their oppressors from them. Thus they will know that He is the LORD. Nor will there be any more change for the worse in that situation ( ). The enemies will no longer find prey in them; they will no longer be devoured. There will be no more fear. Safe, untroubled and fearless, they will enjoy all the blessings that the LORD gives them in rich measure. The guarantee of an unruffled peace lies in “a plant of renown” [Darby Translation] that is the Lord Jesus, their Messiah, whom the LORD will cause “to raise up” [Darby Translation] on their behalf ( ). The word “raise up” in this verse is the same word in Hebrew as “set over” in , which also talks about the Messiah (cf. ). He will drive out the hunger and the reproach. When that situation has arrived, they will know that the LORD is with them ( ). Always the statement, that people will know that He is the LORD, has been a threatening statement because it has always been related to the judgment that He executes. Now this statement is in connection with blessing. Knowing that He is the LORD is the basis of blessing for His people. They will also know that they are His people. That connection is a strong assurance that no more calamity can strike them. However, they, His sheep, the sheep of His pasture ( ; ), will always need to have the consciousness that they are only men, weak and mortal, and that their salvation and blessing is only in Him, their God. With this powerful reminder, the description of future blessing concludes.

‏ Ezekiel 34:26

Promise of the One Shepherd

This last section describes the millennial realm of peace under the Messiah, Who is here called “My servant David” (Eze 34:23). The LORD will raise up His Shepherd and entrust Him with His sheep. He is “the Chief Shepherd” Who is coming back (1Pet 5:4). He will care for the sheep and lead them. The LORD and His Shepherd have an equal care for the sheep. They are also essentially the same Person. The LORD is their God and the Servant is their Prince (Eze 34:24; cf. 2Sam 5:2b). So it is, for the LORD has declared it.

The LORD confirms His verbal promise with a covenant (Eze 34:25). This gives His sheep even more security. He makes with them “a covenant of peace”, a covenant that flows from the all-encompassing new covenant that characterizes the millennial realm of peace (Jer 31:31-34). That covenant also ensures security. The harmful beasts, symbols of false leaders and hostile nations (Eze 34:28), will be removed from the land by Him. Unconcerned they will live in the wilderness and undisturbed they will be able to sleep in the woods. Everything speaks of rest and peace, safety and security.

There is also an abundance of blessing that comes over His people and over the area where they live (Eze 34:26). “My hill” is Mount Zion, and the places around it is Israel. Through the rain that He gives, the trees will give their fruit and the land will give its yield (Eze 34:27; cf. Hos 2:21-22; Joel 2:23-27). Once again, the LORD speaks of them being secure on their land without care. They will have rest and also freedom, for the LORD has removed their oppressors from them. Thus they will know that He is the LORD.

Nor will there be any more change for the worse in that situation (Eze 34:28). The enemies will no longer find prey in them; they will no longer be devoured. There will be no more fear. Safe, untroubled and fearless, they will enjoy all the blessings that the LORD gives them in rich measure. The guarantee of an unruffled peace lies in “a plant of renown” [Darby Translation] that is the Lord Jesus, their Messiah, whom the LORD will cause “to raise up” [Darby Translation] on their behalf (Eze 34:29). The word “raise up” in this verse is the same word in Hebrew as “set over” in Eze 34:23, which also talks about the Messiah (cf. Isa 60:1). He will drive out the hunger and the reproach.

When that situation has arrived, they will know that the LORD is with them (Eze 34:30). Always the statement, that people will know that He is the LORD, has been a threatening statement because it has always been related to the judgment that He executes. Now this statement is in connection with blessing. Knowing that He is the LORD is the basis of blessing for His people. They will also know that they are His people. That connection is a strong assurance that no more calamity can strike them.

However, they, His sheep, the sheep of His pasture (Eze 34:31; Psa 100:3), will always need to have the consciousness that they are only men, weak and mortal, and that their salvation and blessing is only in Him, their God. With this powerful reminder, the description of future blessing concludes.