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.