January 12, 2012
The vision of the Temple continued. Ezekiel saw the glory of God coming from the east with a sound like rushing water. It was like the vision he saw prior to the destruction of the city and also like the vision he had at the Kebar River.
Ezekiel did the only thing you can do when you see the glory of God—he bowed face down on the ground. God's Spirit took him inside the Temple. God himself spoke to him. God told Ezekiel to "tell the people" about who God is. Tell them about the temple (God) so they will be ashamed of their sins. "Let them think about the plan of the Temple." (Remember, it has been 25 years since they were taken captive and 14 years since the Temple was destroyed.) Let them think about what the Temple used to be. Let them think about its beauty. Let them think about how it was made. Let them think about how and why it was destroyed. "If they are ashamed for all they have done" let them know what you have seen. Tell them what I (God) am showing you. "Let them know the design of the Temple and how it has been built." Show them everything—its exits, its entrances, its designs. Also tell them all its rules and teachings. Ezekiel 43:11 - "Write the rules as they watch so they will obey all its rules and teachings."
Just like God used Moses to guide His people generations before, He was now using Ezekiel to guide His people in restoration. Tell them—maybe they will be ashamed. Let them think—maybe they will repent. Let them know—I'm giving them another opportunity. I AM the LORD. I AM Holy. The Glory of the LORD filled the temple.
In Ezekiel 40:4 - the man spoke to Ezekiel and said, "Pay attention... this is why you were brought here.. tell the people." This time the LORD himself said, "Pay attention. Use your eyes to see, and your ears to hear. See and hear everything I tell you about the rules and teachings of the Temple of the LORD. Pay attention to the entrance to the Temple and to all the exits from the Temple area. Then speak to those who refuse to obey." Say this to the people, "This is what the LORD God says: Stop doing all your acts I hate." (Ezekiel 44:5-6)
Hate is such a strong word. What an awful thought, doing things God hates. When you truly consider the Glory of God (Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 5:24; Psalm 8:1; Luke 2:9,14; Hebrews 1:3; Revelations 21:23) how can you even consider continuing to do the things God hates? I guess the answer might lie in the first word of that sentence—when. If you don't consider His Holiness, then you don't have to face reality. The thing is—reality IS reality whether you want to face it or not.
God told Ezekiel that the Levites must be punished for their sins. The Levites were the priests, the leaders and the caretakers of the Temple. Of all people they should have known better. But they were the ones who allowed sin into the Temple. They were the ones who no longer followed God's rules and teachings, and they were held accountable. They lost their position of leadership. All of them except the Levite priests who were descendants of Zadok.* Zadok had not compromised. He stood strong and took care of God's Holy Place. So his descendants were the only ones allowed to continue the honor of being the priests. As our Pastor says, "Leaders are held to a higher level of accountability."
*Zadok references: I Samuel 12:35; II Samuel 8:17; II Samuel 15:24–29; II Samuel 20:25; II Chronicles 27:1; Ezekiel 44:15
Next Entry: Ezekiel 43:1 – 48:35 (Continued)
The vision of the Temple continued. Ezekiel saw the glory of God coming from the east with a sound like rushing water. It was like the vision he saw prior to the destruction of the city and also like the vision he had at the Kebar River.
Ezekiel did the only thing you can do when you see the glory of God—he bowed face down on the ground. God's Spirit took him inside the Temple. God himself spoke to him. God told Ezekiel to "tell the people" about who God is. Tell them about the temple (God) so they will be ashamed of their sins. "Let them think about the plan of the Temple." (Remember, it has been 25 years since they were taken captive and 14 years since the Temple was destroyed.) Let them think about what the Temple used to be. Let them think about its beauty. Let them think about how it was made. Let them think about how and why it was destroyed. "If they are ashamed for all they have done" let them know what you have seen. Tell them what I (God) am showing you. "Let them know the design of the Temple and how it has been built." Show them everything—its exits, its entrances, its designs. Also tell them all its rules and teachings. Ezekiel 43:11 - "Write the rules as they watch so they will obey all its rules and teachings."
Just like God used Moses to guide His people generations before, He was now using Ezekiel to guide His people in restoration. Tell them—maybe they will be ashamed. Let them think—maybe they will repent. Let them know—I'm giving them another opportunity. I AM the LORD. I AM Holy. The Glory of the LORD filled the temple.
In Ezekiel 40:4 - the man spoke to Ezekiel and said, "Pay attention... this is why you were brought here.. tell the people." This time the LORD himself said, "Pay attention. Use your eyes to see, and your ears to hear. See and hear everything I tell you about the rules and teachings of the Temple of the LORD. Pay attention to the entrance to the Temple and to all the exits from the Temple area. Then speak to those who refuse to obey." Say this to the people, "This is what the LORD God says: Stop doing all your acts I hate." (Ezekiel 44:5-6)
Hate is such a strong word. What an awful thought, doing things God hates. When you truly consider the Glory of God (Exodus 15:11; Deuteronomy 5:24; Psalm 8:1; Luke 2:9,14; Hebrews 1:3; Revelations 21:23) how can you even consider continuing to do the things God hates? I guess the answer might lie in the first word of that sentence—when. If you don't consider His Holiness, then you don't have to face reality. The thing is—reality IS reality whether you want to face it or not.
God told Ezekiel that the Levites must be punished for their sins. The Levites were the priests, the leaders and the caretakers of the Temple. Of all people they should have known better. But they were the ones who allowed sin into the Temple. They were the ones who no longer followed God's rules and teachings, and they were held accountable. They lost their position of leadership. All of them except the Levite priests who were descendants of Zadok.* Zadok had not compromised. He stood strong and took care of God's Holy Place. So his descendants were the only ones allowed to continue the honor of being the priests. As our Pastor says, "Leaders are held to a higher level of accountability."
*Zadok references: I Samuel 12:35; II Samuel 8:17; II Samuel 15:24–29; II Samuel 20:25; II Chronicles 27:1; Ezekiel 44:15
Next Entry: Ezekiel 43:1 – 48:35 (Continued)
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