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.