Daily reading
Today’s reading is: Ezek. 44-46
Video
Ezekiel Chapter Forty-Four
- Tour Stop #11: a return to the outer gate on the east (Ezek. 44:1-3).
- The gate was shut, following the return of the glory of God (Ezek. 44:2).
- This gate will be the place for David the Prince to partake of his sacred feasts (Ezek. 44:3 cp. 34:24; 37:25).
- Tour Stop #12: back to the front of the house (Ezek. 44:4-31).
- The message demands supreme attention, as a repeat of the original command in this section (Ezek. 40:4). “Pay attention” (CSB) “Mark well” (NASB, NKJV) “Set your heart on” (LEB, NASB fn), “see with your eyes, and hear with your ears” (CSB, LEB, NASB, NKJV).
- The Lord outlines the abominations of the previous temple, which will not be permitted in this temple (44:6-14; cp. Ezek. 22:26).
- The faithless Levites will minister to the people, but the faithful descendants of Zadok will minister before the Lord (Ezek. 44:11,13 cp. 15ff.).
Ezekiel Chapter Forty-Five
- Ezekiel’s tour is paused once again as instructions are given for the division of the land (Ezek. 45:1-8).
- A holy portion of land measured 25,000 cubits by 20,000 cubits (Ezek. 45:1).
- Under Mosaic Law, no land was set aside for the house of the Lord (2nd Sam. 7:7).
- Within this division of the land, a contribution is given to the Lord for the use of the Priests and Levites (Ezek. 45:1-5).
- A further land division is given to the capital city for the Prince (Ezek. 45:6-9). The Prince will no longer need to take the best of the land from the tribes of Israel (Ezek. 45:8 cp. Deut. 17:14-17; 1st Sam. 8:10-18; Isa. 11:3-5; 32:1-8).
- Fair economic standards for measurement are established and will be maintained by the Lord (Ezek. 45:10-12).
- The primary activity for the Prince is to bring the people’s offerings to the Lord (Ezek. 45:13-25).
- His taxes (tithes) were used for the national offerings to the Lord (Ezek. 45:16-17).
- He will also officiate at the national feasts of New Year (Ezek. 45:18-20), Passover (Ezek. 45:21-24), and Tabernacles (Ezek. 45:25).
Ezekiel Chapter Forty-Six
- Chapter 46 contains particular instructions for the millennial worship protocol.
- The eastern gate to the inner courtyard is the scene of the Prince’s offerings (Ezek. 46:1-8).
- This gate shall be shut, except for Sabbath days (Ezek. 46:1), new moon days, and during times of freewill offerings by the Prince (Ezek. 46:12).
- This gate is the primary location for public worship of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ezek. 46:3).
- The flow of traffic for the people shall be progressive—north to south or south to north (Ezek. 46:9).
- The worshipper will enter through either the northern or southern outer gate with his offering in hand. The eastern outer gate will not be an option (Ezek. 44:1-2).
- The worshipper will cross the outer courtyard to the corresponding northern or southern inner gate, where he will deliver his offering to the Levites (Ezek. 40:39-43).
- The Levites will slaughter the offering, and minister to the worshipper (Ezek. 44:11-14).
- The Zadokite priests will take the offering within the inner courtyard, offer it on the altar, and minister to the Lord (Ezek. 40:46; 44:15-16).
- The worshipper cannot exit by the outer gate through which he entered (Ezek. 46:9).
- He must exit through the outer gate opposite to where he entered (either north or south).
- Therefore his path of travel will take him between the two eastern gates.
- Each worshipper will have the opportunity to not only bring an offering, but worship directly before the Lord.
- The activity of worship will be for the Prince and all the people (Ezek. 46:10).
- Instructions are given for required and freewill sacrifices (Ezek. 46:11-15).
- Additional instructions are given for the Prince and his sons, and the administration of their land inheritance (Ezek. 46:16-18).
- Tour Stop #13: a view of the temple’s kitchen facilities (Ezek. 46:19-24).