Ezekiel 44-48
The final chapters of Ezekiel continue paint a picture of a restored and heavenly worship. At times, the instructions seem earthbound and mundane, not unlike the instructions in the Pentateuch. Ezekiel sees a restored priesthood (Ezek. 44), a new distribution of the land (Ezek. 45, 48), and a fresh approach to offerings and holy days (Ezek. 45-46). But this is all described in the context of God’s intense glory.
My favorite part of Ezekiel’s vision of the heavenly Jerusalem is at the beginning of Ezekiel 48; don’t miss it. A man (angel) brings Ezekiel to the entrance of this glory-filled temple. Out from under the threshold is flowing a river. Compare it to the River of Life that John sees in Revelation 22! The man measures the depth of the river, then leads Ezekiel in, first ankle-deep, then knee-deep, then waist-deep, then too deep to cross. Ezekiel’s only choice would be to swim, to give himself over to the flow of God’s river. When the man allows Ezekiel to look downstream, he sees nothing but life (47:9) and fruit (47:12). No doubt about it; this is the River of Life! Let’s dive in.
Lord, carry us along into the dangerous, but life-giving waters of Your Spirit! AMEN.
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
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