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.
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