September 11 - Ezekiel 43-45
Holiness is the theme of this passage. God is holy, and He wants His people to be holy. Our lives should focus on holiness. How can we be like God? The only way is to allow His Spirit to direct us and for us to stay away from sin.
In chapter 43 there are instructions for the cleansing of the altar in the Temple. This cleansing would take 8 days to complete. This shows how serious God is about being clean and holy. How long do you take to consider your holiness each day or each week? It should be a significant part of your time. Only after the altar was cleansed were the regular sacrifices begun. God does not accept our service for Him when we do it from an unclean heart.
In chapter 44 there are instructions for the Levites and the priests to insure that they are clean and holy, too. Again, it is a long list of things to remember. Why? God wants them to obey Him, even if they don't understand. He has a reason for each rule. What about me and you? Do we want to argue with God about His laws for us? Why don't we just submit to Him and watch for Him to lead us and bless us? I hope we will be holy in that way.
Finally, in chapter 45 there are instructions for setting aside a holy district in Jerusalem during the millenial reign of Christ. The focus is on the prince. Is the prince an earthly king or is it Christ? I can't say for sure, but it seems to be Christ. An earthly king would not be doing sacrifices, as the prince does here. However, it says that the prince offers a sin offering "for himself" and for all the people. (v.22) Jesus does not need to offer a sin offering for himself, but it could be that this is symbolic of how He is the fulfillment of the priests in the Old Covenant, and He is just going by what they did. This makes sense to me, because my main problem with the millenium has been the fact that we don't need sacrifices any more. Jesus paid it all for us. The work of redemption was finished on the Cross. However, if Jesus uses the millennium to teach that to Israel and to the world, then, I can see why there would be a Temple and sacrifices. (v.15)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 46-48.
In chapter 43 there are instructions for the cleansing of the altar in the Temple. This cleansing would take 8 days to complete. This shows how serious God is about being clean and holy. How long do you take to consider your holiness each day or each week? It should be a significant part of your time. Only after the altar was cleansed were the regular sacrifices begun. God does not accept our service for Him when we do it from an unclean heart.
In chapter 44 there are instructions for the Levites and the priests to insure that they are clean and holy, too. Again, it is a long list of things to remember. Why? God wants them to obey Him, even if they don't understand. He has a reason for each rule. What about me and you? Do we want to argue with God about His laws for us? Why don't we just submit to Him and watch for Him to lead us and bless us? I hope we will be holy in that way.
Finally, in chapter 45 there are instructions for setting aside a holy district in Jerusalem during the millenial reign of Christ. The focus is on the prince. Is the prince an earthly king or is it Christ? I can't say for sure, but it seems to be Christ. An earthly king would not be doing sacrifices, as the prince does here. However, it says that the prince offers a sin offering "for himself" and for all the people. (v.22) Jesus does not need to offer a sin offering for himself, but it could be that this is symbolic of how He is the fulfillment of the priests in the Old Covenant, and He is just going by what they did. This makes sense to me, because my main problem with the millenium has been the fact that we don't need sacrifices any more. Jesus paid it all for us. The work of redemption was finished on the Cross. However, if Jesus uses the millennium to teach that to Israel and to the world, then, I can see why there would be a Temple and sacrifices. (v.15)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ezekiel 46-48.