The Peace Our Good Shepherd Provides

Jesus told the disciples He would give them a peace the world would not understand or take away. 

John 14:27 (ESV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In Ezekiel 34, after the Lord announces judgment on the false shepherds and says that He would come down and be their true shepherd, we get a picture of the peace he brings through types and shadows in the language of this beautiful text. 

Ezekiel 34:25 (ESV) “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.

First, His peace is rooted in His covenant. We have all we need through His blood to know God's peace. 

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace...

The "wild beasts" have been banished from the land in Him! What are those beasts? The language of Ezekiel is a picture for us. We have been given authority back, which Adam had lost to rule over the beasts of the field, but more importantly, a picture of our authority over the beasts in the unseen realm. Interestingly, the end times narrative speaks of a "beast" who demands allegiance. That beast expresses subtle overtones in our world today, and Christians must not fear it. We might fight in the Spirit knowing we have the victory; the beasts have been banished!

Notice the promise of blessing year round.

Ezekiel 34:26 (ESV) 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.

In Christ, we are blessed. Ephesians speaks repeatedly of this reality. 

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Notice the promise of fruitfulness rooted in security.

Ezekiel 34:27 (ESV) And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

In Christ, we bear fruit that lasts.

John 15:4–5 (ESV) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Notice the promise of glory and exaltation in the sight of the nations. 

Ezekiel 34:29 (ESV) And I will provide for them renowned plantations so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the reproach of the nations.

This is true for Israel, as she is a glorious nation today. But it is true for Spiritual Israel, the Church, as her reputation in history, while speckled, has testified to the goodness of God to this day. 

All of these great and precious promises start with peace. Peace which comes because of the covenant we have in the blood of Christ. When we rest in His promises and not our performance, receive His blessing, and not try hard to impress others, we bear fruit that comes from within. A peace the world cannot give and does not understand, but we have it and live in it because of Him.