Ezekiel 47:1-12 – Let's live by the river of God’s abundance.

The tour of the Temple has reached its climax in Ezekiel 47-48. In verses 1-2 of Ezekiel 47, the prophet was brought from the kitchens, where sacrifices and fellowship meals were prepared, back to the door of the house of God.

There he saw water flowing from the threshold of the Temple. It flows across the court and under the main wall, “from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.” The water at first in trickles, streams down east and gathers momentum as it flows until it becomes wider and deeper and form a large river.

The guide that was with Ezekiel measured the flow at intervals of a thousand cubit which is approximately about 1,500 feet. At the first thousand cubit, the water was only ankle deep. Then at the next thousand cubit the water was waist deep. In the final thousand cubit, the water reached a level where he could no longer wade through it. Here he was literally swimming in it.

In verses 8-12, Ezekiel said he was brought back to the bank. From there he remarkably saw a great number of trees growing along the bank, the leaves of which would never wither. As the river flowed toward the Dead Sea, it brought life to the stale and stagnant water there. The once dead and lifeless existence were brought to life and buzzing with meaningful and fulfilling activities. It became a great place for fishing. Besides providing water, the river was also providing food for nourishment and healing to the sick.

This scene here brings us to Revelation 2:1-2 where John saw the vision of “a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

What does these twelve verses tell us of God’s desire for us. He wants us to be nourished, blessed, and healed from the life-giving stream that flows from Calvary. It was there that our dear Saviour died to set us free. God does not want us to just live in ankle or waist deep water but to be swimming in His river of abundance.

Today the water is still flowing from God’s presence. As we bask and ravish in His presence, we will be living by the river that will never run dry. Jesus’ promise in John 7:38 that says “out of our inner being shall flow rivers of living water” is still available and flowing when we connect with Him. Why don’t we come to, drink from, and live by the river of God? We should!

Ezekiel 46:19-24 – Make time for worship and fellowship.

Continuing with the tour of the Temple, Ezekiel was brought to view two areas. One where the holy offerings to God were prepared. Another was where the sacrificial meal for the common people after the worship was prepared. This suggest to us that incorporated into worship was fellowship.

In chapter 46 and verses 16-20, the Prophet Ezekiel was brought by the sides of the gate into the chamber within the enclosure of the inner court. He was brought to the place where the priests would prepare the holy offerings. This was where offerings to GOd , both the guilt and sin offering, would be boiled and the grain baked. The purpose was to keep the holy things for God separated from the people.  

In verses 21-24, Ezekiel was brought to the outer court. At each of the four corners of the outer court was one smaller court.  These were the places for cooking the portions of the sacrifices meant for the common people. These places seem to be were where the fellowship meal was prepared.

Worship is a gathering of God's community to honor Him. It must include time for fellowship between worshippers. This was practised in the early church. Acts 2:42 tells us that the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  As believers, we set aside time to worship God, but we must not neglect fellowship with others. This is God’s plan for our spiritual growth. We grow in community for no one can grow effectively in isolation.   

Ezekiel 46:16-18 – Wise stewardship of our belongings

The sixth regulation given in Ezekiel 46:16-18 has to do with how the prince should handle his property. There are essentially three instructions given concerning this matter.

When the prince gives a property to his son as a gift, it would be the permanent property of his son. He would own it forever and would not need to return it to the father. This is the first instruction.

Secondly, when the prince gives a similar gift to his servant, the gift would have a lease on it. It would be the property of the servant till the year of jubilee. The servant must return the property to the prince in that year of liberty.

Thirdly, the properties he gives to his son and servant must be his own. He could not annex the properties of his subject to give to his son or his servant. This instruction was to ensure that the king would not be overtaken by the temptation to seize the land of his subjects to compensate for what he had given away.

In these verses, we learn the principles of stewardship of all that we are given. We are accountable for the belongings God has entrusted to our care and stewardship. We must not envy what our friends or neighbors have so that we will not be tempted to pilfer from them. If we want to be generous, be sure to be fair.

Ezekiel 46:9-15 – Being disciplined and organized.

The fifth regulation given from Ezekiel 46:9-15 concerns matter regarding worship. Verses 9-10 has to do with ensuring orderliness when large crowd come together for annual festivals and celebration. To avoid chaotic movement, the people that came together were expected to move only in one straight direction. They do not exit from the gate they came through to the outer court. They must exit from the one opposite from the gate they entered by.

Verse 11 stipulates the amount of grain and oil along with every animal the people has to offered with the sacrifice. Verse 12 prescribes what is to be done when the prince makes a voluntary offering. The gate facing the east that would be usually shut would be opened to enable him to observe the offering.

Apart from the weekly, monthly, and annual sacrifices, there was the daily sacrifices. Verses 13-15 specify what to do for the daily sacrifice. Previously, this was done morning and night. The prescription in these verses said that the daily sacrifice would only be offered morning by morning.

One thing about our God is sure, He is meticulous, logical, and orderly. Just as He had systematically created the world, worship and celebration must not be offered chaotically. Everything God does, there is orderliness. We see orderliness when He began the work of creation. Today we can see His orderliness in how nature continue to work. Whether in the order of day and night or in seasons or in the planetary movement we see orderliness. Let’s emulate Him and be known as people that are disciplined and organized.

 

Ezekiel 46:1-8 – The right attitude to approach God.

Most of us roughly know what is the Sabbath but what is the new moon? Many references had been made to the new moon in the Old Testament. The Hebrew calendar is lunar based. When a new month began was depended on the sighting of the moon.  A new month began when messengers appointed to sight the moon announced the appearance of the silver lining of a new moon. On the first day of the new moon an offering would be brought to God by the people.   

Stipulated in Ezekiel 46:1-8 is the fourth regulation. It concerns celebration of the Sabbath and the new moon. The east gate leading into the Temple’s inner court from the outer court was to be shut every day except during the weekly Sabbath and the new moon.  For on these stipulated occasions sacrifices and offering had to be made to the Lord.  

Verses 1-2 said that on such occasions, the prince would enter through the vestibules but not through the gates. He could only come and stand at the doorpost to present the sacrifices and watch the priest carry out the sacrifices and the rituals. He was to leave once the ceremony was done. Likewise, the people could only worship at the doorway of the gate which would be shut by the evening. Verses 4-8 stipulate what the prince was to provide for both the Sabbath and New moon celebration. What must be done are all specified in these verses.

Three things are evident. The gate would be opened on the Sabbath and the new moon. Worship opportunity was given not only to Prince, priest but also to the people. Giving in worship must be made generously and not grudgingly.

Worship of God is a matter of great importance. It must not be entered into and engaged in an unserious manner. It calls for preparation and personal readiness. Don’t be shoddy in approaching God. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 prescribe how we should approach God. The preacher says, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore, let your words be few.”  

 

Ezekiel 45:18-25 – Celebrating our redemptive journey.

In Ezekiel 45:18-25 we find instruction on the celebration of three important feasts. They are the Feats of the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacle. The first two are to be celebrated at the beginning of the year and the third is to be celebrated midway through the year. These feasts had been stipulated in Leviticus 23.

On the 1st day of the 1st month of the year, cleansing of the temple must be conducted. Verse 19 specifies that “The priest shall take some of the blood from the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the house, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar and on the posts of the gate of the inner court.” This cleansing was also to be done on the seventh day of the month for everyone who had erroneously or ignorantly sinned.

On the 14th day of the 1st month, the Passover shall be celebrated. It would last for seven days when unleavened bread would be eaten. Verses 22 - 24 stipulate what the prince must do. This is how the Living Bible translated these verses. “On the day of Passover, the prince will provide a young bull as a sin offering for himself and the people of Israel. On each of the seven days of the feast, he will prepare a burnt offering to the Lord, consisting of seven young bulls and seven rams without defects. A male goat will also be given each day for a sin offering. The prince will provide a basket of flour as a grain offering and a gallon of olive oil with each young bull and ram.”

The Feast of the Tabernacle is the feast referred to in Ezekiel 45:25. It would be celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month. The prince shall provide the same things as he had contributed to the Passover celebration for seven days.

These feasts tell us that Life with God is an ever-advancing journey of holiness. Walking with the Holy God is not a monotonous but a joyful one. Every experience we can have with Him should inspire us to lift Him up with our praise. Unlike the Israelites who were given instructions to celebrate these feasts, for us, they point us all to what God through Christ has accomplished for us. We refresh ourselves in Him and through Him offer a life of thanksgiving and praise. He is worthy of it all!

Ezekiel 44:13-17 – Worship must be a collaborative effort.

In Ezekiel 45:17-17, is the second regulation. It concerns contribution to the prince. Who is this prince? We have established that he couldn’t be the messiah as some has speculated, since he has to offer sin offering for himself. He is probably a special administrator of the Temple.

These verses stipulate that everyone must contribute. Verses 13-14 specify the amount of wheat or barley, oil, animal each to contribute. They shall give it to the prince, who in turn would provide for various offerings during the feasts, festivals, and celebration in the Temple.

Lessons to draw from these verses. Firstly, it is the responsibility of every believer to contribute to sustain the work of the ministry. Everyone must participate in the giving. Secondly, the leader in charge must wisely administer and steward the contribution. We are not spectators but collaborators in bringing true worship to God. Let’s us do our part.  

Ezekiel 45:9-12 – Be honest and just in our dealing.

Proper frame of mind and life are important if we are to offer acceptable worship to God. From Ezekiel 45:9 to Ezekiel 46:24 are regulations and instructions to help align one's life to be acceptable to God in worship. In Ezekiel 45:9-12 is the first of the regulations. Though they addressed the princes or leaders, they are also applicable to us.

In these verses, God makes known that He has had enough of the “princes’ violence and destruction” and urges them to “practice justice and righteousness.” He ordered them to stop “expropriation.” In other words, they must stop abusing their authority and stop to seize the property of the people for public use or benefit. The people's right to ownership must not be violated.

Princes, even priests had been guilty of being dishonest. And God abhors dishonest gains. He desires honesty, justice, and sound moral to be the standard of everyone in both worship and daily life.

Here princes are admonished to stop using questionable means and tools to abuse, cheat, and take advantage of the people. Weight and scales and proper standard of measurement must be used to avoid dishonesty. Hence those in leadership position are expected to use accurate scales and right measurement to ensure that the people are not cheated. Deceit and injustice are repulsive to God.

A close reflection will help us see that the principles of honesty and justice also apply to us. Our actions reflect our character. If we are to offer acceptable worship to God, our character matters. Honesty in our dealing is important.

Being always precedes doing. Personal integrity is important. What we do and how we do it are often determined by our character. To say that we honour God yet live a life devoid of sound moral compass is incongruent. When we come before God in worship, we don’t want any guilt or unconscionable practice to affect our coming. We must worship God in spirit and in truth meaning an honest and sincere attitude. Psalm 32:2 tells us that blessed is the man “in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

 

Ezekiel 44:1-8 – Letting God take center place in life.

Every tribe of the sons of Israel was distributed land by Joshua after the conquest. Hence, it would not be too far-fetched to imagine the landless Israelites in exile thinking about their possession when they return to the land. They would undoubtedly be concerned about this matter.

So, following the revelation that Levitical priests would not be given any possession in the previous chapter, Ezekiel 45 begins by talking about the division of land. However, the outline of the division of land will be given in fuller detail in Ezekiel 47:13 to the rest of the book.

The emphasis on the sovereignty and presence of God in their midst over equality was the prior concern in the division of the land here. Hence, we see a delineated central district to be offered to the Lord. He is the priority in the distribution of the land. This is an acknowledgment that He owns everything.

Within this holy district would be the Temple which would have the Sanctuary and Most Holy place. Surrounding the Temple would be an open space to separate between the Holy things and the unclean things of everyday living.

Priests and Levites would be settled close to the temple because they ministered in the sanctuary. Alongside the Holy District would be areas where the other people of God could settle.

The prince or rulers would be given land stretching toward the Mediterranean in the West and land extending eastward toward the Jordan. This would prevent them from oppressing the people. Verse 9 warned rulers not to assert their power and unjustly oppress the people.

In this portion of the scriptures, we cannot get away from the centrality of God. He must be at the center of His people’s lives because He is the true ruler. Isn’t this what Matthew 6:33 is all about? To let King Jesus take the central place in life and living.

Ezekiel 44:28-31 – God is our source in life.

Ezekiel 44:28 makes it explicitly clear that the priest would not be given any possession because the Lord Himself would be their inheritance. This was not something new. For right at the onset of the journey of the children of Israel, the LORD already made this known to Aaron. In Numbers 18:20, he was told, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.”

Why did the Lord not give them any possession? we surmise that just as important as holiness is to ministry, so is the attitude of dependence and trust on God. Priests are set aside specially to mind the things of God. Their minds, hearts and devotion should be rightly focused on Him. They should not have to worry about their sustenance and be distracted. God guarantees that He personally would provide for them. This is the privilege of serving the Lord.

Hence, they were permitted to eat of “the grain offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering and everything set apart for the Lord.” And God also assured them that they would be adequately provided. In verse 30, God declared that “The first of all the first fruits of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from all your contributions, shall be for the priests; you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough to cause a blessing to rest on your house.” Note God would bestow blessings on household who take this instruction of the first fruit offering seriously.

To emphasize His call to holiness and purity, God forbade the priests from partaking of any fowl or beast that had died unnaturally or torn into pieces. Apart from being holy and pure, priests were expected to have an attitude of trust on the Lord.

And like them Christ’s royal priests are called to depend and rely on Him. We must not be so consumed with earthly matters. Instead. we must learn to set our minds on things above where Christ is seated. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus our Lord told us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all things we need shall be added to us. We believers must not be consumed with anxiety over possession like the rest.

Ezekiel 44:17-27 – We must model holiness.

The need for holiness in ministry and service to the Holy God can never be over-emphasized. Hence the priests who were accorded the privilege to serve in His presence must exercise the utmost care to ensure that requirement.  The rest of Ezekiel 44 from verses 15-31 covers detail of ordinances and requirements to ensure holiness of the priesthood.

To ensure purity even the priest attire for duties in the sanctuary are carefully defined. From their head gear (turban) to inner garments, verses 15-19 tell us that they must not be those of material that could be contaminated by perspiration. They must be made from linen material and not wool that would cause them to be polluted by their perspiration during service.  

The garment they wore for service are considered h0ly and must not be polluted by the uncleanness outside.  Hence after ministry in the Sanctuary they must change the linen vestment to something else after ministry and leave them in the chamber before they meet the people outside.

Verse 20 deals with their appearance.  Their hair could only be trimmed and not shaved. They are expected to be need and tidy. THis is to prevent priests from appearing dishevelled and unkempt. Appearance matters. They signal one’s readiness to serve.

Habits and lifestyle of priests must reflect propriety. They must not drink wine before they enter the inner court. For such a serious duty, a priest must perform it with sobriety. And for marriage, a priest cannot afford to be casual in choosing his life partner. Who they marry must reflect purity. In their teachings priests must train the people to discern between what’s holy and what’s profane to help choose to live rightly. And when settling dispute, they must adjudicate it according to the holy ordinances of God.

A priest is required to observe the laws concerning the Sabbath and all the required feasts and festivals. They must not be defiled by dead bodies making them ceremonially unclean. When a priest had contact with a dead body of his family members, he is required to observe the period of cleansing for purity.       

Summarily, in life - their appearance, habits, conduct, marriage, and ministry, priests are expected to model purity and uprightness. They are expected to be influencers of holiness.   

Since we are His holy priesthood, we can understand why Jesus, our Lord tells us to “be holy even as our Heavenly Father is holy.” How else can we be a good influence to the people, both within the believers’ community and those outside of it?  We are the salt of the earth and light of the world. We must live a life worthy of our calling. We must be worth our salt as His representatives.  

         

 

Ezekiel 44:15-16 – Be faithful, emulate the sons of Zadok.

Faithfulness matters in serving God. Therefore, God had to deal with those unfaithful when wayward Israel went pandering after idols. They did not restrain them but goaded them on. God took away their privilege of handling the most sacred tasks in the sanctuary before His presence.

However, among the Levitical priests, only priests from the sons of Zadok were found to be faithful. Ezekiel 44:15 said that during the time when God’s people, as well as the other priests, strayed from Him, the sons of Zadok remained faithful in their service to Him.  

For their faithfulness, they retained the privilege of drawing near to God to minister to Him. They shall be given the honor of standing before Him to offer the fats and the blood of the sacrifices. God’s word about them in Ezekiel 44:16 says, “They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and keep My charge.”  

God welcomes unfaithfulness in His people, especially those who desire to minister to and for Him. Unfaithfulness will disqualify us from His presence and will cause us to lose our office. Faithfulness on the other hand will be rewarded. God will allow us to enjoy His presence and fruitfulness in our service to Him.

The principle here reminds us of what our Lord taught in the Parable on the Talents. To whom much is given much will be required. To him who has exercised His stewardship faithfully more will be given. To him who has not whatever, he has may be taken away. People who cannot be faithful in the little things seldom are faithful in the more important things. Let’s be God’s faithful followers and ministers.

 

Ezekiel 44:10-14 – Don't be a stumbling balock.

Levites were descendants of Levi, the son of Jacob. They were set aside to serve God in the Temple. Of the Levites, only the descendants of Aaron were assigned priestly roles. They would minister before the Lord in handling the most sacred tasks in the sacrifice.

Other Levites not descendants of Aaron would play a secondary role. They were used to set up, dismantle, and transport the portable Tabernacle during the exodus. Later, in the temple built by Solomon, they were keepers and guards of the gates and musicians for worship.   

Ezekiel 44:10-14 obviously refers to Levitical priests, those who were serving before the presence of God. During the wayward days of Israel when God’s people were pandering to idols, these Levitical priests were also found unfaithful. They did not rightly guide them to honor God.

In not guiding the people of God rightly, they had become their stumbling blocks. Though God could have barred them totally from the Sanctuary and service. Yet God chose to be gracious.

God said in verse 13, “…they shall not come near to Me to serve as a priest to Me, nor come near to any of My holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they will bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed.”  Verse 14 tells us that He graciously granted them peripheral roles and responsibilities in the Sanctuary.

Their granted roles were defined in verse 11. God said, ^“Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house and ministering in the house; they shall slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them.”  

God expects us to take our role seriously. Here God warns of consequences that await anyone, especially a leader, who is found to be a stumbling block to other worshippers. All of us must play our role of helping others to draw near to God. If we fail to do our part and deprive others of a meaningful connection with God, we will not be worthy of enjoying His presence in our lives.

Here's a word from our Lord in Luke 17:1 to keep us from being a stumbling block to others. He said, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!” Let us be a light and not a hindering.   

Ezekiel 44:4-9 – Be qualified to serve God.

In Ezekiel 44:4, the prophet was brought to the front of the Temple through the gate in the north. Remember the gate in the East was shut. Where he was, he beheld the glory of the Lord and was overcome with awe that he fell on his face.

As Ezekiel lay there, verse 5 said that he was instructed to pay careful attention to everything God would reveal to him concerning the decrees and regulations of the Temple. He was also told to take careful notice of all entrances and exits of God’s sanctuary.

God then told him to deliver a scathing rebuke to the rebellious house of Israel. For they had scandalously brought foreigners who were uncircumcised of heart and flesh into the sanctuary. There His sanctuary was desecrated and defiled by their strange sacrifices so much so that they had nullified His covenant with Israel. And God has had enough of all their abominations.

What was worse was that they permitted foreigners, people who should not handle the holy things of God to take charge of the sanctuary.  To prevent further desecration of the sanctuary, a restriction on entering the temple was to be imposed. God said in verse 9, “No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary.”

These verses reveal to us the type of people who are qualified to serve God and minister on His behalf. Serving God is serious business. Not every Tom, Dick, and Harry is permitted to handle God's business. True servants of God must be consecrated and found worthy to serve. Servants of God are only as good as they are faithful to Him and His Word.   

Ezekiel 44:1-9 – How to approach our holy God.

In Ezekiel 40-43, the prophet was given a guided tour in a vision. He was brought to the various parts of the Temple by the angelic being. Throughout the tour, he saw the different dimensions and measurements of the different parts of the Temple. In Ezekiel 43, he was shown the altar of sacrifice and instructed on the cleansing and consecration of it.

Now in Ezekiel 44:1-3, he was brought to the outer gate of the sanctuary facing the East. And there he found the gate shut. Why was it shut? Apart from emphasizing the holiness of God, it would be hard to see the why. For it was through this the gate that the Lord God of Israel and His glory entered the Temple, so, it would be closed to everyone else. No one was considered worthy to enter through it.

Verse 3 reveals a prince who was granted the privilege to eat bread before the Lord. Even he had to enter and exit via the porch either through the gate on the north or the south. The introduction of the prince presents us with a difficulty. Who is this prince?

Some speculate that he is the Messiah. But it is hard to make the case because Ezekiel 45:22 indicates that he had to offer a sin sacrifice for himself and the people. It is best to see him as probably just a leader, an administrator, and a keeper of the Temple.

The holiness of God tells us that He is a being of unparalleled majesty. There has never been one who could and will never be one that can ever be compared with Him.  His moral purity is perfect and faultless. The holiness of God is not to be trifled with. Yet like the prince, we believers are accorded the privilege to come into His presence. But we cannot afford to treat Him with careless nonchalance. We must offer to Him our utmost respect and reverence and walk gingerly before Him.

Ezekiel 43:18-27 – Consecrated for service.

In Ezekiel 43:18-27 are God’s instructions on the procedure of cleansing and consecration of the altar seen in the previous paragraph. Within these verses, God also specifies the priests he wants for service. Remember Ezekiel was first a priest before he was reassigned as a prophet. Thus, he was qualified to conduct the cleansing and consecration ceremony that would be conducted for seven days.  

In these verses, details of how to conduct the ceremony are given. Here God leaves instruction even on the animals for the specific offerings and sacrifices. He even details the priests He wants for ministry in the Temple.    

The cleansing and consecration of the altar would begin with a burnt offering followed by the sprinkling of blood. The burnt offering was for cleansing and the sprinkling of blood was for consecration. Only after the seven days of the ceremony of cleansing and consecration then could the altar be used for the normal sacrificial offerings.

The Levitical priests from the offspring of Zadok were selected to minister to the Lord. Why only the sons of Zadok? The reason can be seen in Ezekiel 44:15 which says, “But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood,” declares the Lord God.”  

The cleansing and consecration of the altar and even the assignment of the type of priests indicate the importance of approaching God rightly. Holiness, faithfulness, and obedience must not be overlooked in our worship and service to Him.     

Ezekiel 43:13-17 – Christ, our altar of sacrifice

Still in the inner court, Ezekiel in chapter 43 verses 13-17 describes the altar of burnt offering. Having described the glory and presence of God, Ezekiel went on to talk about the altar of sacrifice.

It appeared like three square boxes stacked on top one after another. The biggest one was on the bottom to form the base. The smallest box was placed on top. The three-tier structure gave the altar of sacrifice a stepped appearance. Its arrangement was to facilitate the priest to climb and reach the top of the altar to offer the sacrifice.

This altar of sacrifice would be the most important piece of furnishing in this Temple. These verses reveal the dimension of the altar of sacrifice, but the material of it was not made known. Take note also that this would be an altar not made with hand but one designed by God.   

Today, we can never bask in the glory and presence of God without the altar of sacrifice. It is central to our relationship with God. This was where Christ sacrificed His life for us. We would never have received God’s forgiveness if not for the altar of sacrifice where Christ died to save us all.  

Let’s cherish the Old Rugged Cross, stained with blood so divine. It was on it the lamb of God left His glory above to die, pardon, and sanctify me and you.  

 

Ezekiel 43:6-12 – How we approach our holy God matters.

God’s holiness is the main subject of Ezekiel 43:6-12. In these verses, Ezekiel was instructed to make known that the New Temple would be God’s dwelling place among the sons of Israel on earth. It must be a holy undefiled place. His people were told not to profane it like what their ancestors had done to the previous one, where idolatry was practiced, and kings’ corpses were buried. The people were forbidden to desecrate this new Temple.

Here God addressed their past sins where they desecrated His holy name. Essentially God would not all any of those abominable deeds to be practised in His presence. In the establishment of the new covenant of peace, God expected His people to honor and respect His holiness.

He wanted it this way so that He could dwell among them forever. God desires to be amid His people. Unholiness is repulsive to Him and will drive Him away. Thankfully in Christ Jesus, we can now be a holy people, a royal priesthood, and a people of His own acquisition.  

In verses 10-12, Ezekiel’s commission was to describe the Temple to the people to bring an awareness of their iniquities and shame.  When they become aware of their own sins, they should study, examine, and evaluate the design and layout of the Temple. Then they would realize the significance of the Temple and its structure.  The crux of the matter was to demonstrate God’s ultimate holiness.

God’s desire for them, as He is for us, is for all to become aware of His ultimate holiness. This will engender a renewed spiritual fervor in us to enable us to rightly approach, interact, worship, honor, and serve God.  How we approach God matters. We must draw near to Him with holy awe. 

Ezekiel 43:1-5 – With God, life is a thrilling experience

Ezekiel 43:1-5 must be a déjà vu moment for the prophet. For years earlier he saw the same glory of the Lord leaving the temple before the destruction of the temple, the city, and the inhabitants. This time what his eyes beheld was very different. He saw the glory of the God of Israel coming into the temple.  

The voice He heard was like the sound of many waters, and the whole earth shone with His glory.  As he caught sight of the returning glory, he fell on his face. As the glory of the Lord entered the temple via the gate facing the east, Ezekiel was lifted by the Spirit of God and brought into the inner court. There he beheld the glory of the Lord filling the house.  

It must have been an exhilarating moment for him. Ezekiel describes three unforgettable features of the revelation he was given. Firstly, he heard the voice of God. It was like the sound of many waters. The voice of God today is found in the written word. If we are to have a victorious walk with God, we need to hear the voice of God. He still speaks as clearly and loudly if we care to pay attention.  

Secondly, he beheld the glory of God’s presence of God. It must have been a stupendous sight. We all yearn for the presence of God. A spiritual journey without His presence will be aimless, meaningless, and unfulfilling. Like Moses, one of our daily prayers should be, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here (Exodus 33:15).  

Thirdly, he had a great encounter where he fell on his face. It must have been an awe-filled moment. Moses and Joshua were told to take off their sandal for they were standing on holy ground. Isaiah saw himself as he truly was in his encounter with God’s presence. His words were: “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; And my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). When John encountered the presence of God, “he fell at His feet like a dead man” (Revelation 1:17). It is undeniable that every person who had encountered the Lord’s presence cannot remain unaffected.

Fourthly, Ezekiel was assisted by the Spirit of God. Like what the Spirit did for him. He wants to lift us up, lead us, and guide us. He is alongside us in our journey. Living a Spirit-led, directed, and guided life is not only possible but also much-needed.       

Ezekiel 42 – Don’t offer God haphazard and unholy service

Ezekiel 42:1-20 takes us to his visionary tour back to the priests’ chambers located at the outer court. These two three-storey buildings were at the rear of the temple area. One at the north and the other at the south. Besides giving the measurements and dimensions of the two buildings, these verses also give some detail of how the identical chambers look.

What is the purpose of these chambers? Verses 13-14 provide the details. These chambers are “for the priest to eat and to change their robes. The chambers would be “where the priests who are near to the Lord shall eat the most holy things. There they shall lay the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; for the place is holy. When the priests enter, then they shall not go out into the outer court from the sanctuary without laying there their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they shall approach that which is for the people.”

In verses 15-20, Ezekiel and his guide exited the inner court, out through the outer court, passed the gate, and into the temple compound. There the guide measured the whole square temple complex. Here the whole complex had a high wall enclosing it.  The obvious reason for the structure is to ensure that the holy thing of God is protected from contamination from everyday life outside.

 

These chambers for the priests' preparation indicate the need for preparation in doing God’s work. It’s a reminder that God’s work must not be carelessly rendered. One cannot afford to be haphazard in discharging his duty to God. Once again, we cannot get away from the need for personal holiness in our service to God. Let Psalm 15:1-2 be ever before us:

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.   

Ezekiel 41:1-26 – Being a holy vessel for God.

Ezekiel was brought to the temple proper in his vision in Ezekiel 40:48-49. There he  saw the man measuring the temple porch, the temple proper. Chapter 41:1-4 then presents the dimension of the inner sanctuary which is the Most Holy place.   

In verses 5-11, Ezekiel was led outward, as he did so, he caught sight of the side chambers. Details of the dimensions of the rooms are given in these verses. These chambers would probably be storage places for the priests.

 

Other areas his tour took him to are the western chambers and their dimensions in verses 12-14. The interior decoration of palm trees and cherubim is described in verses 15-20. Then in verses 21-22, we have the description of the architecture of the inner sanctuary, and in verses 23-26, the sanctuary’s door.  

 

Documented in Ezekiel 41 are the precise measurements, proportions, and features of each part of the temple proper. We cannot get away from the meticulous attention and detail God gives concerning the place in which He would dwell. If God gives such careful attention to His house, should we not take care of where we will host His presence? The Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians reminds us that each of us individually and all of us corporately form the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are His dwelling place. We are to host God’s presence. Therefore, we must take care of ourselves and be holy even as our Heavenly Father is holy.      

 

Ezekiel 40:5-49 – Worship and serving our perfect God

Ezekiel 40 began by establishing the time and place where the prophet had the vision of the future Temple. He said he was brought to a very high mountain and given a tour. The prophet saw a man glistening like bronze with measuring instruments in his hand. There he was told to pay attention to all that he would see and hear, and to make it known to the house of Israel.

The man in Ezekiel’s vision was seen taking measurements of the different features he saw in this visionary tour. The measure of the outer wall surrounding the temple compound is described in verses 5-16. Then the dimensions of the eastern gate, the guardrooms, and other rooms known as vestibules and windows. The measurement of the outer court, its chambers, the passageway around it, as well as the north and south gates are given in verses 17-27.

 

We can be lost trying to figure out what the whole physical structure of the temple looks like from the description given in the chapter. Some preachers seem to be able to see unique truths from the different dimensions given. This is not our attempt in this reflection.

 

From the precise dimension and measurement of each part of the structure, we conclude that the God we worship is perfect. He deals with precision. Everything fits perfectly in His plan. In Him, things do not happen accidentally. They happen according to His schedule and plan. By trusting, worshipping, and serving Him, we are in good hands.        

Ezekiel 40:1-4 – Being a faithful messenger of God

In Ezekiel’s vision described in chapters 8-11, the temple in Jerusalem was seen to be desecrated with idols. The Lord and His glory were also seen to depart from the temple. However, in later chapters, the prophet gave hopeful messages of a future restoration for God’s people. He hinted that in their homeland they would have a sanctuary and the presence of God.  

 

In chapter 39, we saw the blessings that God’s people would experience when they returned to the land. This chapter seems like a neat place to bring the book to a conclusion. But after this chapter, the book of Ezekiel has nine more chapters. Some have considered them as an appendix added to the book that had concluded in chapter 39.

 

These next nine chapters are not easy to interpret much less to understand. The first readers probably understood the description and illustrations of Ezekiel 40-48 better. Unlike us, they didn’t have to overcome the language, geographical, and cultural barriers that we have. That is why we will need to trust God to lead us to find the needful personal application for our growth in Him. It is undeniable that these chapters are spiritual truths God wants us to discover, apply, and grow in Him.  

 

Ezekiel chapters 40-48 present a climax of hope in God for His people. The Temple, a priesthood, and a worship system are seen to be constructed. This future Temple would be a holy and sanctified place where God would dwell. It would be a key part of the promised land which would be supernaturally blessed by God. Included in this blessing would be Gentiles whom God would make His people.   

 

Ezekiel 40:1-4 says that the vision the prophet saw happened in the 25^th year of the exile on the tenth day of the first month, and 14 years after Jerusalem was captured. He was taken to a very high mountain in Israel and given a tour. Toward the south, he saw the structure of a city. Here he was brought closer to the gate of that city. Standing in the gateway, he saw a man, an angelic being, glistening like bronze. In his hand were two pieces of measuring equipment. One was a rod and the other, a reed.

 

Ezekiel was then told to pay close attention to what would be revealed to Him. He was to take careful note of all that he would see with his eyes and hear with his ears. Whatever would be revealed to him, Ezekiel had the responsibility to declare all to the House of Israel.

While truths will be concealed from unbelievers, God will make it known to those who believe in Him. Like He had chosen and used Ezekiel as His instrument, God can also use us as His messengers. All of us are God’s redemptive agents in the world. It behooves us to pay close attention to all that He will reveal so that we can pass it on to warn or bless others. Let’s be God’s faithful instrument!     

Ezekiel 39:25-29 – The blessing of restoration

In this last paragraph of Ezekiel 39, Israel is restored by God. Gog and his host had been exterminated. Whatever fortune Israel had lost would be restored to her. God’s mercy would also be shown to His people. And He would zealously guard over His Holy name. Through these verses, we cannot get away from seeing the blessings that one would enjoy when one's relationship with God is restored.

Verse 26 says that when His people had dwelt securely in the land, they would no longer remember their disgrace and all the treacheries they had perpetrated against Him. This is grace. It is by way of saying that God had forgiven and erased whatever effect of their sin committed against Him.

 

God’s people would be restored to the land, and He would sanctify and make them His set-apart people. They would, henceforth, live in close relationship with Him and He would be their savior and redeemer.

 

Through all that had happened to them, God’s covenant people would realize and know God, their covenant Lord. It was He who had allowed the enemy to carry them into exile and then would bring them back into their homeland, leaving none behind. There they would experience His presence as He poured out His Spirit upon them.

 

While this passage talks about God’s dealing with Israel and their restoration, it also anticipates ours. This is the grace of God. In Christ and His work at Calvary, we are initiated into the blessings of a restored relationship with God. In Him, we are reconciled to God. Our sinful past is removed, and we are given a new life. In Second Corinthians 5:17, that assurance is that in Christ our old sinful nature is erased, and we have a new start to living. We can experience God’s perpetual presence in our life. 

Ezekiel 39:17-24 – God chastens us to perfect and not destroy us.

The slaughter of Gog and his host is outlined in a scene of gigantic sacrifice in Ezekiel 39:17-2o. Here God told Ezekiel to invite every foul bird and wild beast to come and feast on the sacrifice.  At the Lord’s decree, the wild beasts and foul birds would come and feast on the sacrifices till they become bloated and drink the blood to the point of intoxication.  

The purpose of why all these had to take place is given in verses 21-24. God would be demonstrating His glory through the judgment. And through it, Israel would recognize that Yahweh, their covenant Lord is indeed their God.

 

Besides, all nations would also come to realize the reason why God’s people were taken into exile. They would know what led to her rejection by God. They would know why God hid Himself from His people and gave them into the hands of their adversaries. It was all because of their iniquities and treacherous acts against the Lord. God was dealing with their transgression and treachery.

 

God loves Israel too much to allow them to destroy themselves. All the discipline they have experienced and will experience has only one purpose – to help them come to truly know God, their covenant Lord.  As God’s people in Christ, God loves us too. Those whom He loves, He chastens, not to destroy us but to build us up. Our trials are moments of His molding. When He is through with us we shall come forth pure as gold.       

Ezekiel 3:9-16 –Only in God can security be found

In the first eight verses of Ezekiel 39 said that God would urge Gog and his massive army to come against Israel. They would come only to be defeated and destroyed on the mountains of Israel by God Himself. Their dead bodies would be left as food for “every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field.”

Verses 9-10 say that in the defeat, they would leave a sizeable amount of their weapons behind. The many weapons would require seven years to be cleared as wood for fire. They would have no need to go and gather wood from the fields or trees for fuel. That need would be provided by the weapons left behind. Besides, they would also seize everything of those who came to plunder them and not the other way around.

It would require seven months for the corpses to be collected and buried. So verses 11-16 said that Israel would be their burial ground. The place where they would be buried in horde would be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. With the task done the land would be searched thoroughly to ensure that not even a single bone would be left. This suggests a thorough cleansing of the land where every trace of evil force would be eliminated.

These verses tell us that battle does not always belong to the strong. But sure victory is the Lord’s. It is in Him that our security must rest. Let us not be terrified by the increasing turmoil we see in the world. Instead, let the turmoil be a signal for us to draw even closer to God. Only in Him are we totally secured.

     

Ezekiel 39:1-8 – God disciplines to advance His purpose

In Ezekiel 39:1-8, we see a repetition of what had already been described in chapter 38. It is a summary of what Ezekiel had already said previously but in a summary form. God would be the one who would goad the forces of Gog on. They would be taken from the remotest part of the north to the mountains of Israel to come against the nation.  

There God would strike and defeat them.  The bow which Gog held with the left hand would be knocked off and arrows dash to the ground, so that purpose would be thwarted. This is to say that the military endeavor led by Gog would fail.

 

Instead of defeating Israel, Gog and his massive force would be destroyed. Their dead bodies, left unburied, would become food for the birds of prey and beasts of the field. God would also send fire upon Magog and incinerate her coastland leaving a heap of ashes. They would indeed recognize God, the Lord.     

 

In the act, God would uphold His name and holiness amid Israel, His people. He would also not allow His holy name to be desecrated anymore. And through it, His name would be upheld and established as the Holy One in Israel.  It would be known that nations are in His hands and not in Gog’s.  

 

Without a doubt, God uses even our opponents to discipline and perfect us, His people. It seems paradoxical that God would use an instrument to deal with us and then would at the same time be the one to destroy the instrument that He uses. We must know that the God we worship and serve is sovereign. And He would even use those who may not be for Him to serve His purpose to make His name known.    

Ezekiel 38:17-23 – Under God’s protective hand

Ezekiel 38:17-23 declares concerning the havoc Gog would wreak against Israel. Verse 17 indicates that God had already made known this through the lips of his former prophets. Here God did not identify the prophets whom He had spoken through concerning this matter. However, we know that the messages of prophets always dovetail with each other's because God is their source.   

Verses 18-19 reveal that on that day when Gog attacked Israel, God’s wrath would be stirred against him. A great earthquake would occur in Israel. Furthermore, there would be a great upheaval. Man, beasts from land, sea, or sky, and physical features such as mountains, pathways, and ground would all be thoroughly affected by the catastrophe.

Verse 20 describes the turmoil this way: “The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.” 

 

God would bring a judgment against Gog and his armies. He would call for a war against them. There would be infighting among themselves. Pestilences and bloodshed would be their experience. Upon them, God would also send on them “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.”   

 

Through His mighty judgment, God would magnify and sanctify and make Himself known in full view of the nations. And they would come to recognize and know that He the Lord is the true God.

 

God’s people are ever under His protective care. To touch God’s people is to touch the apple of His eye. No one can plot against God’s people and get away from His reckoning. He promises to keep us and He is faithful and will do it.