WEEK 37, DAY 4; TODAY’S READING: EZEKIEL 45-48

OVERVIEW:

The allotment of land for the priests and the millennial temple (chapter 45); offerings and sacrifices during the millennium (chapter 46); the waters of the land healed and the land divided (chapters 47–48).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapter 45 begins with an allotment of land to be offered unto the Lord during the millennium. (45:1–8) This portion of land will cover a territory of about eight square miles. In the middle, a rectangle of 25,000 X 10,000 cubits, will be for the temple, and will be set aside as the dwelling for the priests. A similar rectangle to the north of it will be for the Levites. On the south, there will be a rectangle of 25,000 X 5,000 cubits that will be reserved for the city itself. (Note: A “cubit” is an ancient linear unit based on the length of the forearm, from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It is usually considered to be a unit of measurement that is from 17 to 21 inches, or 43 to 53 cm.) Ezekiel’s description allows us to see that the temple will be the focal point of the land, and that it will be surrounded by an area for the priests on the east and west, an area for the Levites on the north, with the city located to the south. An area for the prince (discussed in yesterday’s reading) will exist outside the domain of the priests.

After detailing the layout of the land, Ezekiel admonishes the priests of his day to execute judgment and justice by ceasing to take advantage of the people. (45:9–12) The conduct to which the priests had grown accustomed will certainly have no place in the millennial kingdom. Ezekiel 45:13–17 records the offerings Israel will give to the prince. The prince in turn will make provision for the sacrifices for public worship. The remainder of the chapter (45:18–20) records the institution of a new festival to start the “new year” with an emphasis on holiness, as well as the reinstitution of the Passover and the feast of tabernacles. (45:21–25) Note also that the offerings in the millennial temple will be much richer and more abundant than those under the law.

Chapter 46 deals with the offerings and the sacrifices that will be offered during the millennium. We are also informed about the reinstitution of the sabbath. (46:1) Also note that the sabbath is an entirely Jewish observance and was never intended to be kept by anyone other than a Jew! (Revelation 2:9b) God clearly reveals that it was a “sign” that He instituted specifically and exclusively between He and the nation of Israel. (Ezekiel 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:14–15) As the people who comprise the Lord’s church, for us to try to incorporate the sabbath into our worship makes us “false worshippers” who are offering to God “false worship”! (John 4:23) Ezekiel lets us know in 46:12 that it will be on the sabbath when the prince will enter through the eastern gate of the inner court to lead the children of Israel in worship.

Ezekiel 46:16–17 teaches that if the prince gives an inheritance to his sons, it is permanent while a gift given to a servant, lasts only to the year of Jubilee. What an incredible picture that paints for us! Because, praise God, His “Prince” (our Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 3:15; 5:31) deals with us as “sons” and not as “servants”! (Galatians 4:7; Romans 8:14)

Chapter 47 begins with Ezekiel being escorted again to the door of the temple. (47:1) The waters issue forth from the entrance, symbolizing that all blessings flow from the presence of the Lord. (James 1:17) God then heals and transforms the waters of the Dead Sea, a body of water that had formerly been incapable of supporting life, into a living sea of fresh water! (47:6–12) It is an incredible picture of the fact that we, too, we’re a body that was incapable of supporting life, but has now been spiritually healed and transformed by the power of God, and is now capable of providing “life” to those who are dead in trespasses and sins! (Ephesians 2:1) The remainder of this chapter (47:13–23) and chapter 48 deal with the dividing of the land. It should be noted that the stranger (the “non-Jews”) living during the millennium will not be excluded. (47:21–23) The Mosaic Law did not permit the stranger to acquire land. It will, however, be permissible during the millennium. The right is extended to those who will settle permanently in the land of promise, having children there. This further reminds us of the fact that there will be children born during the millennium.

The final chapter (48) deals with the distribution of the land that was promised to Abraham for the millennial age. All the tribal portions extend across the breadth of the land. All the tribes are west of the Jordan, with a central tract of land separated for the temple, for the city, and for the prince’s land (discussed in chapter 45). Notice that Dan is the first tribe mentioned as Ezekiel begins talking about the distribution of the land. What makes that so interesting is that when the tribes were listed in Revelation 7, concerning the 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel that will comprise the 144,000 witnesses of Jehovah during the tribulation period, the tribe of Dan had been written out of the list of tribes because of their idolatry. (Revelation 7:5–8) But glory to God, in the millennium, God, in His grace and mercy, will restore the tribe of Dan! Don’t ever forget, our God is all about restoration! He restores what has been lost! He repairs what has been broken! He sees past our failures! He seeks our restoration!

The book of Ezekiel began with much of Israel in exile. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the world. Over the course of Ezekiel’s life, the glory of the Lord departed from the temple, and the temple and Jerusalem were burned and destroyed. In these last nine chapters, however, God has given Ezekiel a glimpse of Israel’s future. The book of Ezekiel ends with a new city, and the name of that city is, “The Lord is there!” (48:35) Hallelujah!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As waters of life coming forth form the presence of God — Ezekiel 47:1 (John 4:14)