266th Week, Ezekiel Chapters 40-43 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Ezekiel Chapter 40

Ezekiel 40

Verse 5a

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 5a:  I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area.

THOUGHT

The city of Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed; the land had been taken over by the Babylonians. The people had been scattered or exiled. Ezekiel did what God’s people always must do in times of trial; he looked ahead to the glorious future God had planned. After all the scattering of the people and the errors of their living, God will restore the land, rebuild the city, a new temple and a new priesthood. The next few chapters share about how the new temple was declared to the people.

Our chapter today brings with it details of the courtyard, gates and rooms for sacrifices and Priests.  The yard, fence and landscaping make a house look attractive. It is a means to make a person walking by attracted to what may lie within. God’s plan for even the walls and gates are so important.  

We as Christians in a world of sin, must keep our eyes on the vision of Heaven. God has it measured out and designed just for us. “We can only imagine.” When our journey here becomes heavy laden or full of bumps in the road, may we keep our eyes on the beautiful gate and courtyard that surrounds the beauty of our heavenly home. We will always be headed in the right direction.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for the goal we have to look forward to. Keep us focused on our heavenly home.  Thank You for Your guidance this week with the written devotions.  We love You as our King. Bless our churches and our pastors this week as they praise and proclaim the Word of God. AMEN

Tuesday, Ezekiel Chapter 41

Ezekiel 41

Mindy Strayer

THOUGHT

Chapter 41 gives more description of the temple and how it is to be built, measurements, outlay, carving details, etc. Doesn’t seem all that spiritually meaty except for when the man says to Ezekiel, “This is the Most Holy Place.” and “This is the table that is before the Lord.”  To me, everything else is a blueprint. 

I asked God, “Why is reading this chapter important to us?”  Then I thought about the two statements that the man gave to Ezekiel. Knowing that the Old Testament is meant to be combined with the new, I thought about Jesus and how He fits into this picture. Then I remembered that Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish the Law (Old Testament) but to fulfill it.”  

How does Jesus fulfill this part of the Old Testament? Because Jesus died on the cross to be a sacrifice for ALL our sins, He provided the way for God to dwell no longer in a temple built by man, but in our own hearts! And also Jesus was the extent to which God went in order that He could share in fellowship with us. When you think about what a big deal it was in the Old Testament to be in the same room as where the glory of God resided (the inner sanctuary), this is the most amazing gift of grace God ever gave us. It used to be that the high priest only once a year, after going through a lot of preparation, was able to be near the glory of God. But when Jesus sacrificed Himself, that curtain of separation was torn in two making the nearness of the glory of God available to everyone all the time! 

This is a gift to be cherished. The God of the universe is my friend! How well do we cherish that relationship? Is it our most precious possession?

PRAYER

Father, too many times we take what You did for us for granted. We don’t appreciate the great lengths You went to in order that we may be as one. Forgive us for allowing the distractions of this world to take our hearts and minds away from cherishing and nurturing this loving relationship that You paid such a high price for. Jesus, we owe You everything! Praise God that we are eternally indebted to You!  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Wednesday, Ezekiel Chapter 42

Ezekiel 42 

Mindy Strayer

THOUGHT

After reading chapter 42 what I came away with was, ‘Our God is Holy’. He is Holy, and He is looking for a people who are Holy. Verses 13 and 14 tell us some of the actions that the priest had to do in order to help him acknowledge and set his mind on the Holiness of our God. It seems to be a stark contrast to how we approach the Lord now. 

Jesus calls us His friends, and friends don’t take so much care before approaching each other. Nothing about our relationship with friends seems formal but more of an informal relationship. However, in Old Testament times there was nothing informal about the priests’ interaction with the Lord. 

How do we apply this to our relationship to the Lord today? Yes, Jesus is our friend, and most times when we speak to him, we will not prepare ourselves in any way. Our words will just naturally flow out without even any formal beginning. But, there are times when we are more acutely aware of the Majesty and the Holiness of our Great God, and during those times He is to be acknowledged and honored for who He is.

There are times when the Holiness of our God should cause us to fall onto our knees in worship. When was the last time you or I were confronted with this Holiness of our God? It should not be a once in a year, month, or even week type of occurrence. We are not acknowledging Him as we should if that is the case.

PRAYER

Father God, we bow our heads in humble adoration for who You are. You are God Most High, creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and everything invisible. You are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and You are sovereign over the entire universe. There is none like You! We praise Your Holy Name today. Father, please forgive us for the times when we take our relationship with You for granted. Forgive us for those times when we have given You no more respect than a ‘wishing well’, hoping You will fulfill one of our wishes. We desire to honor and serve You as You have created us to do. Give us, Lord, a desire to know You more and more every day and bless us with a desire to allow You to make us into a Holy People who accurately reflect Your image. We ask this in Jesus Name.  AMEN

Thursday, Ezekiel Chapter 43

Ezekiel 43

Verse 4-5

Bart Strayer

Verses 4-5:  “The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.”

THOUGHT

I think I got the easier chapter to comment on.  It’s been no surprise that the book of Ezekiel is a long tough read.  When I read this chapter, it brought back a warming in my heart after all the prophecy and action centered on the consequence of growing apart from the LORD. To have the LORD show up in a glorious form must have been a huge deal in the chronicles of these times. 

It is a big deal now even as we seem to be riding the last of the wave of spiritual foundation in this nation.  I can’t imagine after our nation is finished turning on the LORD, and the U.S. starts to resemble some manifestation of some Eastern Europe nations, spiritually dry and religion less. Having the LORD show up again would be a BIG DEAL.

Like many of you, Mindy and I have the benefit of worshiping the LORD in a Church that seeks God’s presence weekly. I have to remind myself that we are truly blessed to have such experiences.

PRAYER

Lord, we need Your presence to fill the temple of our hearts. Help us not to grow dry in our pursuit of You. We thank You for the awesome power You display when You dwell in Your house. In Jesus Name.  AMEN

Friday, Ezekiel's Profile (Taken from Life application Bible)

Although Ezekiel's vision and prophecies were clear and vivid, very little is known about the prophet's personal life.  His name means 'God strengthens'.  He was among the thousands of young men deported from Judah to Babylon when King Jehoiakim surrendered.  Until those tragic days, Ezekiel was being trained for the priesthood.  But during the exile in Babylon, God called Ezekiel to be his prophet during one of Israel's darkest times. God shaped Ezekiel's character to fit his mission, that being a tough and courageous man to reach a hard and stubborn people.   

Ezekiel experienced the same kind of shocking encounter with God that Isaiah had reported 150 years earlier.  Like Isaiah, Ezekiel was never the same after his personal encounter with God.  Although God's messages through both these prophets had many points in common, the conditions in which they lived were very different.  Isaiah warned of the coming storm. Ezekiel spoke in the midst of the storm of national defeat that devastated his people.  He announced that  even Jerusalem would not escape destruction.  

God's description of Ezekiel as a watchman on the walls of the city captures the personal nature of his ministry.  A watchman's job was dangerous. If he failed at his post, he and the entire city might be destroyed.  His own safety depended on the quality of his work.  The importance of each person's accountability before God was a central part of Ezekiel's message.  He taught the exiles that God expected personal obedience and worship from each of them.  

Ezekiel's book amazes me for he recorded the visions of God with such accuracy.  This prophet was indeed a man called by God who had a strong relationship with him.  Thank You, Ezekiel, for your words and faith in our Lord.