Holiness requires a Difference

 Read Ezekiel 42.

In this vision of the future Temple in Jerusalem, the angel provided exact measurements that will be followed.  The walls, the gates, the doors, the rooms, the inner court, and outer court are all detailed.  Several times in this chapter the word "holy" is used.  The Hebrew word means sacred, consecrated, dedicated.  Something holy is set apart, dedicated to the LORD, and treated in a special manner because it belongs to God.

1. There will be holy chambers. (v.13a)
The priests will use these rooms to eat.  Because the meat will be that which was sacrificed to the LORD on the altar, the very room is to be treated as sacred.

2. There will be holy offerings. (v.13b)
The people will come with their animals they wish to give to the LORD as a sacrifice.  Since the offering for sin has been paid on the cross, such offerings in that future Temple would of necessity be ones of thanksgiving and celebration.  These offerings are to be treated as belonging to the LORD and handled in a prescribed, holy way.

3. There will be a Holy Place. (v.14a)
Within the Temple will be an area that is called holy.  This is where the sacrifices and offerings are made on the burning altar on behalf of the people.  This is not to be confused with the Holy of Holies.  The holiest of places was a smaller area behind a thick curtain that housed the Ark of the Covenant and the very presence of God.  That place was so holy that only the High Priest could enter and that only once a year.  When Jesus died on the cross, God tore the curtain of the Holy of Holies, allowing all access to Him (Matthew 27:51).  There is no mention of the Ark of the Covenant here.

4. There will be holy garments. (v.14b)
As the priests minister, they will wear special clothing that is not to be worn at any other time.

The main idea of declaring something holy is to separate it from common usage (v.20).  The Apostle Paul quoted the living God in calling upon believers in Jesus to live as a holy people.  There should be a noticeable difference in the followers of Jesus and everyone else.  "'Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.'  Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1)

 

The bread of Life

 Read Ezekiel 41.

Ezekiel's visionary tour of the future Temple continued.  The three-story structure will include a surrounding gated wall with a spacious outer court.  Inside will be an inner court with many rooms for storage and priestly usage.  Details of the dimensions and, even some architectural features, are provided.  The one furnishing mentioned in this chapter is an altar referred to as "the table that is before the LORD" (v.22).

It is not clear how this table, or altar, will be used.  The size is larger than either the original "table of the bread of Presence" or "the altar of incense," as described in Exodus 25:23 and 30:1-2.  However, the name in verse 22 would seem to be in place of the first one.

According to Leviticus 24:5-9, the priest was to bake twelve loaves of unleavened bread every Sabbath day and place them on the table in two rows of six.  The number of loaves represented the tribes of Israel. The priest would then pour pure frankincense over them.  It was an aromatic "food offering to the LORD."  Symbolically, this served as a reminder that God provided for their physical needs, their daily bread.

Concerning daily needs, Jesus said, "Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33)

But greater than meeting our temporary physical needs, Jesus came to meet our eternal spiritual need.  He taught His followers, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."  "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life."  "I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." (John 6:35, 47, 51)

 

3 questions concerning the future Temple

 Read Ezekiel 40.

In a vision, on an exact date in 573 B.C., God gave Ezekiel a tour of the future Temple.  The prophet, led by an angel, moved door by door and room by room.  A rod was used by the angel to measure each space.

Many questions commonly arise as a result of reading the closing chapters of this book.
1. Is this referring to the Temple that was rebuilt when the exiles returned?  
The Babylonians tore down and burned Solomon's beautiful edifice.  This cannot be the rebuilt Temple because the construction instructions here were not followed as this prophecy describes. 

2. Is this referring to a literal Temple or is it all symbolic?
Yes, the prophet has used analogies and comparisons to illustrate some of the messages.  However, every prophecy in Ezekiel has been literal.  Those that were fulfilled to date have all been literal, which leads even the casual reader to expect that this description will be as well.

3. When, then, will this Temple be built?
There are so many prophecies concerning Israel's future that have yet to become a reality.  Overriding them all is Paul's declaration that the Jews will turn to Jesus as the Messiah and "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26).  Jesus will rule and reign for a thousand years from David's throne in Jerusalem (Revelation 20:6).  These closing chapters of Ezekiel tell that the priesthood will be reinstituted and this Temple will be built.  The location must be on the very place where the Dome of the Rock stands today in Jerusalem.  That statement alone causes any thinking person to ask even more when and how questions.

Though we have many things written down for us in the Word of God, there are so many plans for His earth that we cannot see, nor fully comprehend.  Even more, how amazing will be the things we never thought of nor dreamed in the rest of the universe and heavens above.  Our faith is the One who created it all, who controls it all, and has chosen to invite us along on the journey.  We stand in awe of Him.

 

2 questions that define the future and the Present

 Read Ezekiel 39.

The Lord continued to deliver a prophetic message to Ezekiel concerning Gog and the allied armies.  In a repeat of what He stated in chapter 38, God will "drive" the battle to the mountains of Israel.  There He will intervene and nullify the effectiveness of the attackers' weapons.  "I will strike your bow from your left hand and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand." (v.3)  Not only will theses armies be defeated, but their homelands will be destroyed.  "I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands..." (v.6)

Such a war has never taken place in history.  Therefore, this remains an unfulfilled prophecy.  Nor can it be spiritualized.  The exact nations are identified and the Lord even provided the name of the future cemetery, "the Valley of Hamon-gog."  It will require seven months to locate and bury all the enemy’s dead.  Instead of Israel being annihilated, the Jews will confiscate and benefit from all that belonged to their invaders.

1. Why will God do this for Israel?
This is all part of His original and unconditional promise to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17).  God will secure the land for Abraham's physical descendants.  He will gather the Jews from all over the world to bring them home (v.27a).  He will "restore the fortunes of Jacob" (v.25).  He will "pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel" (v.29).

2. What is God trying to communicate?
Four times in this chapter the LORD repeats His motive.
-"My holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore.  And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel." (v.7)
-"...that I may show my glory." (v.13)
-"And I will set my glory among the nations..." (v.21)
"...through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations." (v.27b)

The God of Heaven jealously protects His name, His holiness, and His glory.  His desire of us today should be obvious.  Our speech, our behaviors, even our thinking and plans are to be in alignment with what is holy and what will honor Him.  

 

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

 

What is God's ultimate Purpose?

 Read Ezekiel 38.

So far, the LORD has pronounced punitive actions against all the surrounding nations and encouraged Israel about its future.  Now, this is the first of two chapters describing God's future judgment against Gog.  It will take place "in the latter days" (v.16) at a time when Israel will be "dwelling securely" (v.11).

Much has been written about the identity of Gog.  What we are told here is that it will be a great military power from the far north to attack Israel.  It is easy to name Russia as this most powerful enemy.  In addition, allies in the region who will join in the battle are named in verse 5: Persia (Iran), Cush (Sudan and Ethiopia), Put (Libya), Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, Beth-togarmah (Turkey).  In other words, the attack will come full force from all sides.  God called it "an evil scheme" (v.10).

Do not miss how this will come about and why it will happen.

God says concerning Gog, "I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out..." (v.4).  In the sovereignty of God, He will use this scheme of theirs to pull them into a situation and inflict His wrath upon them.  This will be God's opportunity to show the world exactly who He is.

1. His Omniscience.
This evil will be devised in secret.  But the LORD is all-knowing.  He knows what they are thinking before they do and He will use it against them.

2. His Omnipotence.
The LORD will display His power against these armies "that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes." (v.16)  He makes even the wrath of man to praise Him (Psalm 76:10).

3. His Omnipresence.
God is personally involved, everywhere at the same time.  At this battle, He will let everyone know He is there.  A catastrophic earthquake will take place but not from natural means.  It will simply be the result of His revealed presence (v.20).

God's ultimate purpose behind all His actions with nations and individuals like us is that same.  "So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations.  Then they will know that I am the LORD." (v.23)  It is His desire that everyone come to know Him personally before it is too late.

 

Sticks and Bones

 

Read Ezekiel 37.

After the death of King Solomon, the once proud kingdom divided into two.  In Ezekiel's day, the people of the northern kingdom of Israel had been scattered throughout the Assyrian Empire.  Then, the Babylonians conquered the southern kingdom of Judah.  Many were killed, some taken captive in exile, and only a remnant of poor people were left in the land.  It would have been natural for the Jews at that time to think that this was the end of the nation.  "Our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off." (v.11b)

But God's promises to Abraham were stated as an everlasting and unconditional covenant (Genesis 15).  Moreover, several times in Jeremiah's prophecy the term of the exile was declared to be only for 70 years.  So, how did God see the nation of Israel?  Were His promises still good?  What was to become of the Jews?

To communicate hope for the future, the LORD gave Ezekiel a vision and a visual illustration for an object lesson.
1. The vision of the bones. (vv.1-14)
This passage of Scripture is famously familiar thanks to the old spiritual song "Dem Bones."  It is often listed as a children's song.  God's intent was profoundly more meaningful than learning skeletal structure.  In the vision, the prophet is shown a valley of dry bones and asked a question about the future and God's power.  "Can these bones live?" (v.3)  God went on to give the interpretation of what Ezekiel saw.  "These bones are the whole house of Israel" (v.11).  The people were literally scattered and dried up spiritually.  However, God will cause the Jews to "hear the word of the LORD" and He will breathe life back into the nation.  Further, He will give them His Spirit and return them to the land.  These words reemphasize the message of chapter 36.  This hope of spiritual revival was meant in every way to encourage the exiles.

2. The visual of the sticks. (vv.15-28)
In order to stir the curiosity of the audience, God had Ezekiel take two sticks and bind them together.  According to verse 19, the sticks represented Israel and Judah.  Not only will the Jews have a vibrant future as a nation, but they would be reunited as a kingdom under God-"one in my hand" (v.19), "one nation in the land" (v.22a), "And one king shall be over them all" (v.22b).  Of necessity, this king who will shepherd this kingdom in the land will be a descendant of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13).

It should be obvious by reading the Biblical account of the return of the exiles and even a general knowledge of history that the fulfillment of these prophecies has yet to take place.  Indeed, such a descendant of David will rule and reign from Jerusalem one day.  As the angel Gabriel announced concerning Jesus: "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:32-33)

 

Why does God promise His blessings?

 Read Ezekiel 36.

After punishing Israel by removing them from the Promised Land and pronouncing judgment upon the surrounding nations, God delivered a message of hope.  Israel has a future.  The restoration of the Jews to their land is undeniably clear and specific.  Here is what the LORD promised.

1. God will bring them home.  (v.8)
The territorial rights to the land is God-given.  It is their home.  Scattered by war, taken into exile, and ruled over by empires and other forces, it was not until 1948 that there existed a nation of Israel on that land, under their own sovereign government.  To this day, they still are not in possession of all the boundaries of their homeland.

2. God will be with them and turn them back to Him. (v.9)
The word of the LORD looks forward to a complete spiritual repentance in Israel.  Their relationship with God, and the Messiah in particular, will be reconciled.  God will give them a new heart and a new spirit.  "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules." (vv.26-27)

3. God will bless them with abundance. (v.10-11)
This is not simply a restoration of the nation from exile.  He has promised to multiply them and "will do more good to you than ever before."  The land of Israel will be like the Garden of Eden (v.35).

4. God will give them peace. (vv.12-15)
Since the Exodus and return to the land under Joshua's leadership, Israel has fought with its neighbors.  Satan has always energized ungodly leaders in every generation in an attempt to eradicate the Jews.  This prophecy anticipates a time when Israel "shall no longer bear the disgrace" of other nations.

Their sin against God was profanely awful (v.17) and deserving of the justice Israel received.  So, why would God promise such blessings?  He does so for one singular reason.  Three times He states, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name." (vv.22, 23, 32)

There is a principle here.  Life is not about us.  The reason behind God's blessings is to bring glory and honor to Him.