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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You said, “And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God” (Ezek 43:27). I praise you today as the God who accepts me! You delight in those who obey your will, and you welcome those who follow your commands. I exalt you and glorify your name! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me more of Ezekiel’s vision of the Millennial temple. Your return to a temple on this present earth will mean a return of the laws and statutes which maintain the holiness of the temple. Indeed, you wanted Ezekiel to emphasize the sanctity of your house so that the exiles would be convicted for how they had defiled your former temple with their “abominations” (Ezek 44:6). This reminds me that you are a holy God, and I must be vigilant to maintain the holiness of my heart where your Spirit lives. The fact that your coming Kingdom will have laws teaches me that laws are not a source of bondage or repression. Rather, they are intended to guide my behavior and show me how to be pleasing to you. Your return also means the institution of a sacrificial system that will be similar to the Levitical sacrifices of the First Covenant. This in no way implies that the once-for-all sacrifice of your Son is no longer efficacious, nor does it mean that blood sacrifices will now “make perfect those who draw near” (Heb 10:1). Rather, these sacrifices will look back on and memorialize Christ’s sacrifice in the same way the sacrifices of the First Covenant looked forward to and anticipated the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:10). In the Millennium, Israel will be ruled by Jesus, the King of kings, but there will also be a “prince,” a leader from among the people who will govern under Christ’s authority. When discussing the duties of the prince, you took the opportunity to call on the current leaders of Israel to “put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness” (Ezek 45:9). This shows me the tremendous importance you place on justice and integrity. I must be righteous and upright in how I deal with those who are under my authority. Reflection The past sins of the Levites had consequences that reached into the Millennium: they were not allowed to enter the inner court, serve as priests to you, or have any contact with the sacred offerings (Ezek 44:9–14). This shows me that with great privilege comes great responsibility (Num 18:23), and while there is forgiveness for failure, certain privileges may be lost. In the same way, past obedience will be richly rewarded in the future: the Zadokite Levites were given the privilege of serving you directly (Ezek 44:15–16). This teaches me that what I do now, in the present, can affect my role and place of service in the future! Request Father, there are times when I lose sight of how important my decisions are here in this present life. Impress on my heart and mind the seriousness of sin and the great responsibility I have to walk worthy of your high and holy calling! Thanksgiving Thank you for the promise of a reward in your future Kingdom. I deserved nothing but your wrath and judgment, yet you loved me enough to redeem me from my sins and adopt me as your child! Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Holiness unto the Lord” — Clara M. Brooks. Meditation Verse: Ezekiel 44:12. |