(Get your Bible out and read the verses as we study.)
Ezekiel Chapters 40-48
Chapter 40
Verses 1-4 – The preparation
for the Passover would begin on the day of this vision. The man in the vision
had a stick to measure short distances and a string to measure long distances.
Verses 5-16 –
Notice the great detail given for the temple. God is a God of order,
organization and detail. 1 Corinthians tells Christians: “But everything should
be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
Verses 17-49 –
Here we see more details about the temple’s orderly construction. We see the
actual dimensions of the outer area, the outer gates, the inner gates, the
priests’ rooms and the entrance to the building. It is all carefully measured
by the man in the vision. This kind of organization is difficult and time
consuming, but if we are to serve God properly, it is necessary.
Chapter 41
Verses 1-26 – The temple was a “holy place,” that is, it is made
especially for the purpose of entering into deep worship. We no longer have
need of a built temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2
Corinthians 6:16 tell us that the physical temple has been replaced, not by
church buildings, not by nature, but by our very bodies in which the Holy
Spirit lives (or else we are not saved). So now, WE are the holy place.
Ezekiel’s vision continues with a description of the holy place, the side
rooms and the inside of the temple.
Chapter 42
Verses 1-20 – This chapter describes the buildings for the priests.
Priests were very special. It was their job to lead the people in worship and
to offer sacrifices to God. We no longer have the office of “Priest.” 1 Peter
2:5 and 2:9 tell us that now WE are the holy priests. Hebrews 4:14, 4:15, 7:24,
7:26 and 8:1 describe our HIGH PRIEST, who is Christ, the Messiah.
Chapter 43
Verse 1-5 – The glory of God came into the temple. Today, the glory of
God lives in us. Our worship must be a personal encounter with God. Only He
(Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is worthy of our worship. The Holy Spirit of God
in our hearts will prick us when we sin and will restore us through the blood
of Christ at the cross of Calvary.
Verses 6-9 – God is speaking and expresses His desire to dwell in His people.
He wants to dwell in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Verses 10-12 – When God’s people worship Him, their worship must be God
centered. Praise and worship are not the same thing. Worship is total
submission of self to God. Praise is exalting the name of God in Christ. We do
pretty well at praise on Sunday mornings. We desperately need to increase our
focus on worship.
Verses 13-27 – Here is a description of the altar of sacrifices. Sin
DEMANDS a sacrifice. Without a sacrifice, sin will keep us from God’s presence.
Romans 12:1 tells us that the only sacrifice we have to offer is 100% of our
selves; our time, our talents, our money and our possessions. This is the
conclusion of Romans 8:1 which describes it as our obligation. Christ provided
the ONLY sacrifice sufficient to erase our sins. We have ourselves and praise
to offer God.
In response to God’s saving grace, our lives should be lives of worship,
praise and totally submission to the perfect will of God.
No less will do.
Chapter 44 Priests
and Sacrifices (Chapters 44-46)
Verses 1-3 – Only the prince may enter the east gate. This
is a reference to Christ, from the family of David.
Verses 4-16 – God was not happy with the way the Levites had
treated His temple. Verse 12: “But these Levites helped the people to worship their false
gods. They caused the Israelites to sin. So, I have lifted up my hand as I made
this judgment against them. I, the LORD your King, will cause them to suffer the
punishment because of their sin.”
Verses 17-31 – What the priests
offered to God must be perfect in every way. Because that kind of perfection is
impossible, God gave us Christ, who causes us to be perfect in God’s eyes. Verses 25-27 are interesting. Priests
are to have no bonding with “dead” persons. If we are priests, we are to have
no bonding with dead (unsaved) persons. “Be not unequally yoked, believer with
unbeliever.” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Isn’t it astonishing how consistent and
connected the Bible is? No part of it is isolated from the rest of it.
Chapter 45
Verses 1-8 – The country is to be divided among the tribes
of Israel. Part of the country is to be set aside as holy; given to the Lord.
Verses 9-12 – Leaders are to be honest, kind, fair and must
not discriminate. There must be no room for “politics” within the Body of
Christ. The homer was Israel’s measure, Christ is ours.
Verses 13-20 – Because sin requires a sacrifice, God’s
prince (Jesus Christ) will provide the sacrifices. This is the NEW SACRIFICE of
verses 18-20.
Verses 21-25 – This is about the Passover week. Jesus is our
Passover Lamb.
Chapter 46
Verses 1-15 – Here are the rules for gifts and
sacrifices. Any sacrifice to God must be perfect. That’s why Jesus had to be
the sacrifice for our sins.
Verses 16-18 – The property of the Prince. Christ is our
Prince and His freedom is for all who will follow Him.
Verses 19-24 – Only priests may enjoy the holy sacrifice.
Only New Covenant priests (those who accept Christ) can enjoy the salvation of
His sacrifice.
Chapter 47 Israel’s
New Country (Ezekiel 47-48)
Verses 1-12 – Here we learn about the temple river. The
river brings life. Jesus is the River of Life.
Verses 13-23 – The country will be divided among the
tribes of Israel. The western border will be the Mediterranean Sea, the eastern
border will be the Jordan River and the Northern border will be the Wadi el
Arish at the border of Israel and Egypt (not the Nile).
Foreigners who live in Israel are to have been treated as
members of the tribe where they live and will receive a share of the land. This
might have been difficult for Israel to accept, but later the Apostle Paul
became a missionary to people outside of Israel (Gentiles). God was preparing
the way in history.
Chapter 48
Verses 1-35 – This is the description of the division of
the land to the north, the holy area, the area for the Levites, the area to the
south, the land share for the prince and the division of the city gates, once
again each in both order and detail.
We must lose our fear of organization and order. We serve
a God of both. While the organization is NOT the ministry, there is no ministry
without organization.
God laid the groundwork for salvation through Messiah
perfectly.
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