Ezekiel 37:26-27 - Exposition

With the people thus gathered ( Ezekiel 37:21 ), united ( Ezekiel 37:22 ), purified ( Ezekiel 37:23 ), and established under the rule of Messiah ( Ezekiel 37:25 ), Jehovah makes a covenant of peace (see on Ezekiel 34:25 ; and comp. Psalms 89:3 ), further characterized as an everlasting covenant ; or, covenant of eternity (see on Ezekiel 16:60 ; and comp. Genesis 17:7 ; Isaiah 55:3 ; Jeremiah 32:40 ); which guarantees the continuance between him and them of undying friendship, conjoined with the bestowment on his part and the enjoyment on theirs of the highest social and religious blessings. First, national existence and secure possession of the soil. I will place (literally, give ) them , either to their land, as in Ezekiel 17:22 (Smend), or to be a nation (Keil), or perhaps both (Kliefoth). Next, steady increase of population— I will multiply them (comp. Ezekiel 36:37 ; Le Ezekiel 26:9 ). Thirdly, perpetual residence of Jehovah amongst them, I will set (or, give ) my sanctuary ( mikdashi , conveying the idea of sanctity) in the midst of them for evermore (comp. Le Ezekiel 26:11 ); my tabernacle ( mishkani , the idea being that of residence or dwelling) also shall be with them ; or, over them—the figure being derived from the elevated site of the temple, which overhung the city ( Psalms 69:29 ), and intended to suggest the idea of Jehovah's protecting grace. That this promise was in part implemented by the erection of the second temple in the days of Zerubbabel may be conceded, and also that Ezekiel himself may have looked forward to a literal restoration of the sanctuary; but its highest realization must be sought for, first in the Incarnation ( John 1:14 ), next in God's inhabitation of the Church through the Spirit ( 2 Corinthians 6:16 ), and finally in his tabernacling with redeemed men in the heavenly Jerusalem ( Revelation 21:3 , Revelation 21:22 ). The last blessing specified is the intimate communion of God with his people, and of them with him— Yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. This, which formed the kernel of the old covenant with Israel (Le Ezekiel 26:12 ), became the essence of the new covenant with the Israel of the restoration ( Ezekiel 11:20 ; Ezekiel 36:28 ; Jeremiah 30:22 ; Jeremiah 31:33 ; Jeremiah 32:38 ; Zechariah 8:8 ; Zechariah 13:9 ), but only attained to complete realization in the relation of Christian believers to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ( 2 Corinthians 6:16 ).