39 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
39 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Ezekiel 44:1–14"
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date = "2023-07-11"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel44.1-14)
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The Lord takes Ezekiel back to the eastern gate of the outer court, and he sees
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that it is now shut. The Lord explains that it will remain that way because He
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Himself used that gate to enter the temple, and no one else may use it any
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more, because it is set apart for Him. Instead, the prince of the city will use
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the gateway as a room to eat bread before the Lord. He will have to enter from
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the court and sit underneath the wall (which is thick enough to make a whole
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room when the outer gate is shut).
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Finally we are told the reasons for the priesthood to be restricted to the
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family of Zadok out of all the descendents of Aaron. During the long history of
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Israel, they were faithful to keep charge of the sanctuary while everyone else
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was following after foreign gods. At least part of reason for this going astray
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is attributed to foreigners being allowed in the temple. But before anyone gets
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riled up thinking the Lord is being racist, these foreigners are said to be
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"uncircumcised in heart and flesh" (_vv. 7 and 9_). This means they were not
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even approaching following the commandments of the Lord, they had not joined
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His covenant community, and thus had no business being inside the Lord's
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sanctuary, where not even the devout lay Israelites were supposed to go.
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Contrast these with the stories of Ruth, Rahab, and the wives of Joseph and
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Moses.
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Though the Levites and most of the priests led the people astray, they may
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still serve in the sanctuary, though the priests have been "demoted" to doing
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the same menial jobs as the Levites. They will slaughter the sacrifices, guard
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the gates, and minister to the people. But they will not go in to the Holy
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Place to minister before the Lord.
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* * *
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You are faithful to keep Your covenant and Your promises, even when we fail to
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uphold ours.
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