February 25, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezekiel? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezekiel 44 (NIV)
The Priesthood Restored
1 Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. 3 The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.”.......Continue Reading
As God explained the function, duties, and rules for the priests I was struck by the parallel between them and us today. They were to do God’s work both in instruction and example meaning they brought God’s word to others and their lives were an example of that, no hypocrisy. We should be spreading the good news and practicing what we preach!
They were to look different and had a set of standards for their physical appearance compared to others. We should look different both in our demeanor and our physical appearance should be reflective of moral standard not today’s standard.
They would get an inheritance and people would be sure their physical needs were met. We shouldn’t be consumed by money or things this earth for like the priests God will provide for us here on earth and when we believe and are obedient He will be our eternal inheritance!
Ezekiel 43
EZEKIEL 44 How priest are to keep everything sanctified as God instructed.
In the service of the temple the Levites were giving this ministry. But only the sons of Zadok were to serve as priests for he was faithful to God. Apparently the other Levites failed to follow God and lead Israel astray. The sons of Zadok would keep the charge of God`s sanctuary. Which meant the Holy things. They would stand before God. But the other Levites would still serve but only among the people. They would be gate keepers. They would slay the burnt offering and minister to them. Remember who Zadok was. He lived during the time of King David. In 2 Samuel 15 and 1 Kings 1 we are given some information. When Absalom[son of David] betrayed David to try to become king, Zadok and Abiathar remained faithful to David. They were both priests to the Lord. Latter when another son of David[Adonijah] tried to betray him by trying to be king, this time the priest Abiathar also betrayed God and David. But Zadok remained faithful to God and David. Because he stood true to God and remained faithful his generations will serve the Lord as priests in this temple. It is a reminder to each one of us at how faithful we are to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I was wondering how Zadok was unique. I know him from 2 Samuel, but didn’t know if there was anything else unique about his service to God. He was faithful!
Ezekiel 44
Ezekiel 45
“As for the prince, because he is the prince, he may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way.”
Looked up who the prince is…and this is what enduringword says:
As for the prince: Ezekiel wrote of a ruler, a prince, who would have special privilege regarding the gate. This ruler is likely David, whose future rule over Israel is mentioned several times in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34:23-25, 37:25) and elsewhere (Isaiah 55:3-4, Jeremiah 30:8-9, Hosea 3:5). In Ezekiel 37:25 it is specifically written that David would be prince over Israel.
i. The identity of the prince is a matter of much discussion among Bible commentators and teachers. A few take it to be Jesus the Messiah, and some that he is a civil leader or a high priest.
ii. The fact that the prince must offer a sin offering (Ezekiel 45:22) and has sons (Ezekiel 46:16) means it is unlikely that the prince is Jesus Messiah.
b. He may sit in it to eat bread before the LORD: This gives us more indication that the prince is not the Messiah, who is also Yahweh Himself. Yet this prince has special access to the gate complex. The gate itself is not open to him, but he may sit in its chambers and vestibule there in fellowship with the LORD.
How the sanctuary of God should illicit desire and conviction for the Jews, helping them see how far they have gone from where they were or where they should be. I wonder what things in our heritage might do the same thing…a song we sang, running into a believer we fellowshipped with, picking up our children’s Bible that harkens back to a time when faith came easier? God is always calling His people back to Himself, and yet He also confronts them with where they are and makes the rules clear about how things are to work in His sanctuary. Those levites that were unfaithful were not to serve, those who remained faithful are given instructions as to how they are to conduct themselves. God is always faithful to the standards He sets and asks His people throughout the ages to be faithful to them as well. Ours may not be about the rigors of the law and the sacrificial system, but it is about godliness and growing in our trust in and obedience to God.
Ezekiel 44