Ezekiel 48
COMMENTARY:
: 8 And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which you shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and the length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it. (8432 “midst” [tavek] means middle, center, the location of something surrounded by other things, or among.)
DEVOTION: At all times we should have the LORD in the center of our life. We should not put HIM in a corner. Too often that is what we do. We want to have fun and sometimes it seems that to serve the LORD is no fun.
The problem is our definition of “fun.” If fun means doing things that are displeasing to the LORD then yes HE is no fun. If our definition of fun is doing things that are enjoyable and pleasing to the LORD then we can have fun.
Our world doesn’t like rules. The LORD has rules for us to follow. Each day we have to make a choice regarding what we are going to do. Sometimes evil seems like fun for a while but then it is no fun anymore. It is boring. It has consequences.
The children of Israel had the Temple in the center of their capital city, Jerusalem. They could wake up each morning and look out their window or down the road and see the Temple. It was a reminder that God was supposed to be in the center of their life. Remember our bodies become the Temple of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.
God wants to dwell in the midst of our life. HE is in our heart the moment we become a follower of HIM. HE is the one who can give us an enjoyable life of service to HIM. We just have to trust HIM.
CHALLENGE: Who or what is at the center of our life each day? Do we try to have the LORD central in our life at all time?
: 11 It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levities went astray. (8582 “astray” [ta‘ah] means err, wander, seduced, wandering of the mind, be confused, spread out, staggering, skip a beat or falter.)
DEVOTION: History can be revealing to those who study it. The history of Israel has its ups and downs. They were consistently wandering from the LORD. It started from the top down.
Aaron was the chief priest in the wilderness and he allowed the people to talk him into worshiping a false god of his making. It was in the image of one of the gods of Egypt.
Moses sent ten chosen men into the Promised Land to give a report regarding the people. Ten of them said that there were giants in the land and they were afraid. Two of them gave a good report because they trusted in the LORD. Who did they believe? The ten men is who they believed. Is the majority always right? NO!!
Each time God send a judge to deliver Israel from an enemy they turned back to their sin. It was a cycle of sin-repentance- deliverance – sin. They continually needed a new judge to help them.
They chose a king instead of letting the LORD be their guide. The kings led them away from the LORD on a regular basis. Now they are returning from captivity and they still think their houses are more important than the house of the LORD.
Finally, God never gives up on them HE looks for those who were faithful and puts them in positions of responsibility. Even in the Millennial Kingdom HE looks for faithful men to serve HIM.
We need to be faithful in spite of the fact that there are many who want to cause us to wander from the LORD. We have men in our pulpits who are not faithful to the LORD. HIS word the BIBLE is the final authority and it must be obeyed for anyone to be faithful.
CHALLENGE: Faithfulness is rewarded by the LORD. History has proven this point. Ask the LORD to help you to be faithful to HIM alone. Be not a follower of men who are not faithful in their teaching of the Word of God.)
: 11 It shall be for the priests of the sons of Zadok, who are sanctified, who have kept My charge, who did not go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. (NKJV)
Choices are what we have to make when it seems like the whole world is heading in another direction. The sons of Zadok made a choice to follow the LORD when all the other Levites went away from the service of the LORD.
Remember the Levites were the ones who were to help the priests with all the Temple sacrifices and other services. They were chosen by the LORD to be a special people for the Temple.
One of the families of the Levites served as the priests. That was the family of Moses and Aaron. Aaron was not a strong leader in the wilderness when he made the golden calf for the children of Israel because he was afraid. Yet the LORD forgave him and gave him an awesome responsibility. His family was to lead the rest of the tribes of Israel in the worship of the LORD.
Their only inheritance in the Promised Land were a few cities and some of them were for people to run to when they were accused of murder. The priests had to decide if they were guilty or not. If they were not guilty they had to live in the city until the High priest died.
Now we have only one family that stayed true to the LORD as the rest of the leaders led the people away from the LORD. It wasn’t just the political leaders that led them astray, it was also the religious leaders.
The choice is still real today. We can follow false religious leaders or we can stay true to the LORD.
: 14 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruitsof the land for it is holy unto the LORD (5674 “alienate” [‘abar] means to do away with, to get rid of, to pass over, go through, to go on one’s way, or move through.)
DEVOTION: This was the Levites land only. It could not be sold or exchanged or alienated. It was most holy. It was solely for the use of the tribe of Levi. It is sacred to the LORD. Simony was not to be practiced with this land.
Just like the land, so with the use of anything that should be dedicated to the LORD should not be used for purposes other than those that honor the LORD.
Too often we find that even some churches will use their building for things that would not please the LORD. The children of Israel would sometimes allow others that were not of the priest’s family to use the land that was only to be used for those who were chosen by the LORD to serve HIM.
This area was to be used for sacred things only just like the church today should be used only for sacred things.
And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the first fruits of the land: for it is holy unto the Lord. (Cowles, H. (1870). Ezekiel and Daniel, with Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical (p. 263). New York: D. Appleton and Company.)
That which is dedicated to the Lord must not be alienated for any cause or used for any other purpose. As the first-fruits belonged to Him so with the oblation for His sanctuary. The holy must not be confounded with the secular, but the title of Jehovah is to be ever acknowledged. (Ironside, H. A. (1949). Expository notes on Ezekiel, the prophet. (p. 333). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
CHALLENGE: Once something was given to the LORD it was not to be used for any other purpose. Our church building should only have things in it that are pleasing to the LORD which includes anything that is done in a worship service.
: 35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. (8033 “there” [sham] means thither, here, thence, or whither. Jehovah-Shammah is one of the names for the LORD.)
DEVOTION: The Bible gives many names to the LORD. We have listed many as we study the Word of God in the Old Testament. Each name is important as it helps us understand who the LORD is in HIS relationship to HIS people.
This verse gives us another name for the LORD. It is a name that will be posted on the city of Jerusalem during the Millennium. The LORD is going to be in the city of Jerusalem and in the sanctuary at the time of this future event. HE is going to be present during the future reign of the descendant of David. This descendant is Christ.
We can practice the presence of the LORD by realizing that the LORD is here with us each day. The LORD wants us to share this information with each other. Sometimes the people around us wonder where the LORD is at the moment. They are going through rough times and want the LORD to be close but HE seems far away. HE has never moved.
HE promised to never leave us or forsake us. HE does answer our prayers but sometimes or most of the time it is not in our time frame. We want HIM to act NOW, not an hour from now. If HE doesn’t answer NOW we think HE doesn’t care sometimes. We even think that prayer is worthless but if we are faithful in our prayer life we will realize that HE is faithful to us.
People who doubt the presence of the LORD need our encouragement. When we are with them, we can put our arms around them and remind them that the LORD is there. Don’t miss an opportunity to share this fact with people who are going through tough times. HE uses us to encourage others.
If we do miss the opportunity the LORD will have to send someone else. That someone else will receive the blessing we should have received in helping our fellow believer through a rough time. We need to be busy for the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Make that phone call to someone who you know is going through a rough time. Visit them if they are close. Everyone needs a hug once in a while. God though the Holy Spirit will direct you to the right location if you are listening.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sanctuaryverses 8, 10, 21
Oblationverse 9
Priests – sons of Zadokverses 10, 11, 13
Levitesverses 13-16, 22
25,000 length
10,000 breadth
Can’t sell or exchange
Holy unto the LORD
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 14, 35
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master)verse 29
GOD – Jehovahverse 29
Lord GODverse 29
Portions given to tribes of Israel
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Damascusverse 1
Coast of Hamathverse 1
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Sanctifiedverse 11
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Inheritance of Danverses 1-2, 32
Inheritance of Asherverses 2-3, 34
Inheritance of Naphtaliverses 3-4, 34
Inheritance of Manassehverses 4-5
Inheritance of Ephraimverses 5-6
Inheritance of Reubenverses 6-7, 31
Inheritance of Judahverses 7-8, 22, 31
Jerusalemverses 8-22, 35
Sons of Zadokverse 11
Children of Israelverse 11
Levitesverses 12, 13, 22, 31
Firstfruits holy to the LORDverse 14
Suburbs fo the cityverses 16-20
Princeverses 21, 22
Inheritance of Benjaminverses 22-24, 32
Inheritance of Simeonverses 24-25, 33
Inheritance of Issacharverses 25-26, 33
Inheritance of Zebulunverses 26-27, 33
Inheritance of Gadverses 27-28, 34
From Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh and to the river toward the great sea
Tribes of Israelverses 29, 31
Gates of city of Jerusalemverses 31-34
Three gates northword
One gate of Reuben
One gate of Judah
One gate of Leiv
East side
One gate of Joseph
One gate of Benjamin
One gate of Dan
South side
One gate of Simeon
One gate of Issachar
One gate of Zebulun
West side
One gate of Gad
One gate of Asher
One gate of Naphtali
Name of Jerusalem = The LORD is thereverse 35
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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