Ezekiel 43 – 48
Ezekiel continues with the specifications on the temple. Again, I often wonder why God created this as the interface then and now we can access God where ever we desire. Is there still a need for this interface or has our knowledge of God “evolved” past the temple as we now understand his omnipresence.
Verses 43:18 & 22 focus on preparing the alter:
18 And he said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and for throwing blood against it, … 22 And on the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull.
One thing I think we miss in our relationship with God is the significance of “preparing” ourselves to enter into a prayer. I start prayers at the oddest times, while driving or on the motorcycle or even in some “quite time” on the “porcelain throne.” I rarely start out the prayers preparing anything; I just cut to the chase on what exactly I need. I think passages like this actually should remind us to get our “house in order” before coming before the Lord with our petitions. Give thanks ad confess, set aside a special time where it’s not a side prayer but actually devoted time for God. Prepare yourself as they prepared the alter with a serious reverence.
Verse 44:23 has the duty of the priests to do this exact thing:
They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.
We should respect our time with the Lord as “holy” and ensure we are clean. God is not “common” although being everywhere and in everything we see Him as “common.” Again the key is do not take God for granted, as an aside note, come to Him with holy reverence.
Verse 48:35 makes me wonder about if this is considered a section of Jerusalem or if it’s a separate town:
The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.”
Is this the district surrounding the temple in Jerusalem, similar to Vatican City in Rome? Either way again we see a place set aside for God, for holy remembrance of Him. Although God is ever where, I still feel a “church” is a special place which gives us time to focus on God. Unfortunately, within that “temple” there are still people to disappoint us along the way.
I can say without a doubt that has happened many times during my church life, that has pulled me away. Early on in our time here in Georgia, Katy broke her hip in a motorcycle accident. We had two small children and a bunch of animals. During that time, not once did anyone from the church come by or offer any assistance. It hurt our feelings and made us eventually leave that church only to move to another, only to have similar disappointments. Which has us were we are at today, disappointed in the churches response to a huge need.
At the same time during all this time we tend to remain relatively isolated, not sure if it’s been on purpose or just the way things are with us. We tend not to ask for help and assume they will see the need. Finally when we do ask for help it’s a crisis and quick action is difficult to come by. Fortunately this feeling has never spread towards God, to the point of wanting to leave His “church”!
As I say this I still believe church is a necessary part of our relationship with God. If for anything else, the time is needed to worship God and reconnect and repair damage from the week. So don’t become disillusioned with God and His church because of the people running the operation. Also, learn to manage your expectations of what you ask of others.