This last section of Ezekiel was difficult for me to read, maybe because my brain was done at the end of each day (after working from home, coaching a first grader through learning and keeping a preschooler occupied, it took me two evenings to read and understand) or it might have been the fact that there is so much information about the temple and Israel in the new kingdom that is coming. Its details rival the sections that describe the tabernacle and the original temple in Jerusalem. God has it all laid out, the temple, the city, and the division of land between the tribes, so why would he not have our lives planned out to the smallest of detail? We are currently living through a global pandemic where the daily news gives little hope, but our hope is in God. He knows our steps, and is there walking besides us the whole time. We just need to remember to take His hand.
Passage:
Ezekiel 37-48
Discovered:
- Ezekiel prophesies over a valley of dead bones and they are given muscle, flesh, breath – made whole
- God will open graves and gather all of Israel and they will again live in the land.
- God promises through the uniting of 2 sticks – Judah and Ephraim that He will unite all of Israel and they have 1 king – Jesus.
- Prophecy against God of Magog: I am against you.
- In the future, Israel will be attacked and God will defend Israel – they will be destroyed.
- destroyed by earthquake, sword, hailstorms and rain.
- not only will their armies perish but their homeland will be destroyed.
- it will take 7 years to burn all the weapons and 7 months to bury the dead.
- I do these things so that everyone knows I am God.
- I will restore Israel and have mercy on them – I will not hide my face from them.
- God took Ezekiel to Israel and showed him a rebuilt wall around the outer court of a new/rebuilt temple, through the east gate, the side rooms, the outer courtyard and past the north gate and the south gate into the inner courtyard.
- Ezekiel was given a tour of all the parts of the inner courtyard, vestibule and the inner temple.
- Ezekiel was given measurements of each wall length, height and thickness, so he could tell Israel.
- The Lord entered the temple through the east gate – sound was like rushing water and the earth shone with His glory. His glory filled the temple.
- Temple is where the Lord’s throne is, His home, where He will dwell among Israel after He restores Israel.
- Ezekiel is told tell and share everything with Israel so they will be ashamed of their sin and walk in His statutes.
- The whole territory surrounding the temple (on top of the mountain) will be holy.
- Since the Lord entered through the east gate, it will be shut, no one will use it.
- Levites will now serve in the temple, because they strayed from me.
- Set-up a holy district 25,000 cubits L x 20,000 cubits W with temple 500 cubits x 500 cubits in the middle
- Will be a section for the priests and a section for the Levites.
- The prince’s portion of the land is 2 sections: one to the east of holy land and one to the west.
- Israel: put away your violence and oppression, execute justice and righteousness, use just scales.
- Every one will be required to bring an foddering to the prince, but he will proved the offerings/sacrifices for all the festivals and offerings for all of Israel.
- A river flows from the south side of the temple towards the east to the sea.
- filled with sea water
- The land will be divided equally among the tribes: 7 to the north of sacred land and 5 to the south.
- There will be 12 gates that are the entrance to the city, one for each tribe.
Help me to remember:
that you know every detail, even in Ezekiel’s time, you have the temple and the land of Israel planned out for the new kingdom.
Lord, I ask that . . .
in times of uncertainty and all the time, I trust in Your plans for you have plans just as detailed as the temple for my own life.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
the blessing you have given me.
