<\/p>\n
Ezekiel 44:1-46:24<\/strong><\/span> In Ezekiel chapters 44 and 45 today we see the priesthood restored to Israel!\u00a0 It\u2019s interesting that the Levites are taken down a notch in how they can serve in the temple and the Zadokites are elevated.\u00a0 Zadok was a priest during the time of David & Solomon and a descendent of Eleazar and ultimately Aaron.\u00a0 Below is a fresco of Zadok by Michelangelo from the year 1611 and is in the Capella Sistina at the Vatican in Rome:<\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 44, verse 28 really stood out to me today: \u201cAs to property, the priests will not have any, for I alone am their inheritance.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I like that!\u00a0 God alone is the priests\u2019 inheritance.\u00a0 What is our inheritance?\u00a0 Is it property?\u00a0 Is it things of this earth?\u00a0 Or could our inheritance be God as well?\u00a0 Should God be our inheritance?\u00a0 How is God our inheritance?\u00a0 If the Lord is not our inheritance, what then do we inherit?\u00a0 The wind?\u00a0 It\u2019s an age old debate as you\u2019ll see in the image above.\u00a0 Where do you stand?\u00a0 Can we inherit eternal life through the grace of God and faith in Jesus?\u00a0 Or do we simply inherit the wind?\u00a0 (Nothingness) What does your heart tell you?\u00a0 Most importantly, what does the Bible tell you?<\/span><\/p>\n In Ezekiel chapter 45 verses 1 through 8 today we read about the division of the land for Ezekiel\u2019s temple vision.\u00a0 \u00a0A nice simple image for these verses is below:<\/span><\/p>\n Ezekiel chapters 45 & 46 describe some new regulations on how offerings are to be done, when compared to the original Pentateuch regulations \u2013 primarily from Numbers chapter 28.\u00a0 \u00a0Apparently these chapters in Ezekiel have created some reconciliation work for rabbis in the past to figure out the proper regulations.\u00a0 Chapter 45 verses 13 through 15 speak of taxes to the prince that must be brought and will be used as offerings for the people who bring them: \u201c\u201dThis is the tax you must give to the prince: one bushel of wheat or barley for every sixty you harvest, one percent of your olive oil, and one sheep for every two hundred in your flocks in Israel. These will be the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings that will make atonement for the people who bring them, says the Sovereign LORD.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Verse 20 in chapter 46 did stand out at me in today\u2019s readings: \u201cHe explained, \u201cThis is where the priests will cook the meat from the guilt offerings and sin offerings and bake the flour from the grain offerings into bread. They will do it here to avoid carrying the sacrifices through the outer courtyard and harming the people by transmitting holiness to them.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Per a previous chapter this goes along the lines of the priests needing to take off their clothes in a special room after being in the Temple, to avoid transmitting holiness.\u00a0 \u00a0This is interesting to me because you would think that transmitting holiness would be a good thing.\u00a0 Apparently not in this case.\u00a0 This does remind me of when Moses was on the mountain receiving the Laws, he had to wear a veil over his face amongst the people when he came down from the mountain because his face was so radiant from being in the presence of God.\u00a0 \u00a0I read a commentary that said this transmission of holiness, in this case in Ezekiel, was not something for the Israelites to concern themselves with, because this was a vision of a future temple.\u00a0 I read another commentary that made the interesting point that these passages in Ezekiel can help demonstrate the transmission of holiness from Jesus\u2019 robe to the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years \u2013 see <\/span>Mark 5:22-34<\/span>.\u00a0 She was healed by reaching out and touching Jesus\u2019 robe.\u00a0 Of course Jesus says that it was the woman\u2019s faith that healed her \u2013 not her touching his robe.\u00a0 It is intriguing to think about the transmission of holiness via garments or sacrifices.\u00a0 I\u2019ll need to do more study on the problem of \u201ctransmitting holiness\u201d in this case in Ezekiel.\u00a0 If anyone has ideas about this, please post up in the comments section below.\u00a0 Thanks.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings reminded me of the MercyMe song \u201cSo Long Self,\u201d which has a fun video:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n