Todays tasting: Ezekiel 43-45
These chapters are a part of Ezekiel’s last recorded vision.
Chapter 43 describes the opening of the temple. Ezekiel saw that the temple as complete, while providing the measurements. This was a word picture to mean that the angel had tested it and the people would complete it to worship God.
Ezekiel heard God’s loud, powerful voice as many waters. God would give Ezekiel new temple rituals, along with specific instructions for the sacrifices:
- The sin offering: a bull or sheep, instead of the sinful person
- The sacrifice made the altar and person clean and acceptable to God
- Only perfect animals were acceptable as sacrifices
These offerings would redeem the sin of the people. Sin ruined human relationships with God. God is Holy and pure, so sin must be atoned.
Chapter 44 speaks of God entering through the east gate, the most important gate in front of the inner east gate. The inner east gate stood in front of the altar for sacrifices and at the front of the temple building.
Ezekiel says that Gods glory entered through the east gate and He did not turn. To “turn” was another word picture. It meant a change of attitudes. God never changes (Hebrews 13). God’s glory entered this Temple by a straight route. He did not turn. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The East holds significance throughout the Bible:
- Jesus’ Star was in the east
- The Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24)
- The East Wind (Exodus 10:3)
- The return of Jesus (Matthew 8:11)
Chapter 44 provides instructions about living separated lives. The Temple belongs to God. He insisted that His people obey and love Him with their whole heart and mind or they could not enter the temple. The Priests were considered priests only if they were from the seed of Zadok. Zadok means “righteousness.” Our righteousness can only come from the seed of Christ.
Chapter 45. -The Temple was part of a bigger plan. In the end, this vision will include all of Israel. While everyone belongs to God, He orders the people to gather in Jerusalem for the Passover Holy Day, the most important holiday in Israel. It lasted for a full week. During Passover, the people remembered how God had freed them and their families in Egypt.
Today’s nourishment: The temple-I draw the comparison of our fleshly temple to the temple in Ezekiel’s vision. We are now God’s dwelling place as the Holy Spirit abides within us. We are to be filled and guided by the Spirit of Christ.
Just as in Ezekiel’s vision, the Spirit cannot dwell with sin and darkness. His Glory shines through us as we yield to Him by checking our hearts and asking God to cleanse us—His temple. He calls us to repentance that our sin will be blotted out so that times of refreshing will come (Acts 3:19).
His mercies are new every morning. In verses 7-12, they set up idols and institutions, erecting spiritual walls between God and them. What walls do we erect to keep distance between God and us?
As they offered sacrifices of bulls, we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices. What does that mean? It means we are to:
- Offer ourselves to the Lord daily to glorify Him in our living
- Ask for His filling daily
- Read and allow the written Word to become Living Word in us
- Keep clean hearts, prayerful attitudes, and pure motives
- Lay our lives down for others
Pray with me: Holy Spirit, fill our temples to overflowing.
Share your comments with us.
Teena Breeden
Nonni to 15 Grandchildren
Tomorrows Delight: Ezekiel 46-48
His mercies are new everyday. I yearn to be filled to overflowing with the spirit of God. I want to be all I can be for Him and His kingdom.
Yes, fill me Lord to overflowing. Thanks for today’s post, Teena. I richly blessed me.