Ezekiel 40
COMMENTARY:
: 2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. (4759 “visions” [mar‘ah] means looking glass, mode of revelation, mirror, apparition, appearance, to see, or sight.)
DEVOTION: In the Old Testament the LORD revealed truths to HIS people through visions. The book of Hebrews informs us that “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also HE made the worlds” [Hebrews 1: 1-2].
So we understand that those of us who live in the time period of the New Testament or in the age of grace have received our instructions through Jesus Christ.
Those who today say they have a vision from God in the form of a new revelation to add to the Word of God. They are not to be trusted. The Bible is complete. There are no new bibles. There are no new revelations.
We have enough instruction in our Bible to help us live as the LORD would have us live until HE comes back or we go to be with HIM.
Now these last eight chapters of Ezekiel cover the building of a new Temple. It is a chapter with a lot of detailed information regarding the Temple.
I am a big idea person. I am not into all the little details as some people are but the LORD is in the details. I had a secretary in my last church named Laura who was into all the details. She would record everyone who attended the church in an address book and then copy it for me. It was great to have someone who liked the details. I had two people who were good in grammar check out my Master’s degree paper which as a great help to me. So detail people are very important in our world today as well. If we have someone build us a house we would like them to be into details otherwise the house would look very funny to those who drive by it.
GOD wants everyone to know exactly what HE is thinking and HE wants us to act accordingly. The Bible gives us the big picture but also the little details. Here is an example of the details.
CHALLENGE: In some areas of our life we have to be very detailed and in others we can see the big picture. Sometimes we don’t understand all the minor details of HIS instructions to us but we have to accept them as HIS will for our life.
:4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, behold with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on everything that I shall show you; for to the intent that I might show them to you are you brought here; declare all that you see to the house of Israel. (7760 “set” [suwm] means put, make, appoint, consider, arrange, fix, install, determine, or pledge.)
DEVOTION: The LORD doesn’t want us to be in the dark concerning our Christian life. HE wants to give us good instructions regarding how we should live our life while we are here on the earth.
If we live at home we know what the rules are because our parents have taught them to us. If we are going to college we have to make up our own rules that are not covered in the college instructions. There is a lot more freedom on a college campus than at home with our parents. There is even more freedom when we live on our own before we are married.
The Bible is our instruction book for our daily living here on this earth. When no one else is in control of our life but ourselves we need to follow these instructions if we want to be a good witness for the LORD.
The Bible covers every area of our life. So we have to “fix our mind” on the Word of God. It will show you what needs to be done. Church is a good place to go also to find out what HE is saying. A good Bible preaching church will help you through the rough spots in any area of your life. Joining a good Bible study group can help as well.
It is not as if we don’t have the LORD using the Holy Spirit in our life to instruct us each day what decision we need to make regarding any activity or friendship we have.
Listening is not easy if we don’t have an active prayer life. HE will speak to us through our quiet time with HIM and then we can enter the world and live for HIM.
CHALLENGE: Each day there is a new assignment from the LORD that we need to receive before we leave our current residence. Do we have an ear to hear what HE is saying?
: 44 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north. (7891 “singers” [shiyr} means a person who sings, sing a song, use the voice as an instrument to voice, musical tones, rhythms, or limited to religious song.)
DEVOTION: I learned early at college when I tried to join a choir for the school that I could not keep a tune in a basket. The direction asked me to sing the musical scale.
I tried and that was the last time I was invited to go to the musical practice for the school.
I still enjoy making a joyful noise unto the LORD the but it is not in a group up front in the church.
Here we have a group that was part of the worship team that lead the people in singing praises to the LORD. It was part of the Jewish worship service. Only those who could really sing were allowed in this group of worshipers.
Today we find that many churches have groups up front that do all the singing and those in the pews just listen.
The LORD wants us to sing praises to HIM not only in church but in our daily walk with HIM. He wants us to know that HE wants us to daily praise HIM for all the things that HE is doing for us. HE would probably like to hear people who can keep a tune but HE doesn’t limit it when we have our personal time with HIM.
I still sing while walking done the street when I know that HE is listening and no one else. I have been told at times when speaking at small churches that I have a good voice but I tell them that they are tone deaf. They laugh.
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants to hear our praise in our hearts and in our voices. Even if it is only a joyful noise.
: 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him. (8334 “minister” [sharath] means serve, servant, attend or render assistance or help.)
DEVOTION: I am not a detail person when it comes to building something. I am a laborer but not the carpenter. Here we have the beginning of the measurements for the Millennial Temple of the LORD. Each part of the Temple is given in detail. Builders love this chapter. The LORD throughout Scripture gives details. HE lists all the animals that are clean and all the animals that are unclean. HE describes each day of creation. HE gives us all the details regarding the children of Israel in the future.
This chapter informs the children of Israel that there is going to be a future Temple. This gives them hope. They have been in captivity for twenty-five years. They might be discouraged. They might wonder if the LORD is going to help them again.
HE tells them HE is. HE wants them to realize that HIS judgment is not going to last forever. HE is a merciful God.
During the Millennium there are still priests that offer sacrifices. There is still sin on the earth. All the humans that are alive still have a sin nature. The devil is in chains. The LORD is ruling over the world.
We need to realize that while we are going through hard times that there is a future hope for all those who are true followers of the LORD. Our life here on earth will be full of times of suffering. We grow through suffering. We sometimes think that we can grow in good times. That rarely happens. During hard times we turn all our attention to the LORD. We want HIS help. We promise HIM things. We need to offer sacrifices to HIM today. The starting point is presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.
CHALLENGE: We are to serve the LORD gladly in the area that HE has gifted us. There are detail people in every church and there are big idea people. These two groups have to work together to build a good church for the LORD.
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)
Outer courtverses 5-27
Inner courtverses 27-47
Sanctuaryverses 48-43: 12
Burnt offeringverses 38, 42
Tables of sacrificeverses 39-43
Chambers and Porchesverses 44-49
Singersverse 44
Priestsverses 45, 46
Zadokverse 46
Sons of Leviverse 46
Altarverse 47
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 1, 46
Hand of the LORDverse 1
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name)verse 2
Visions of Godverse 2
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)
Angel (appearance of man)verses 3-5
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Hand of the LORDverse 1
Behold with your eyesverse 4
Hear with your earsverse 4
Set in your heartverse 4
Declare allverse 4
Singersverse 44
Ministerverse 46
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Land of Israelverse 2
Son of man = Ezekielverse 4
House of Israelverse 4
Outer courtverses 5-27
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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