SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 46
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the land are to worship in the presence of the LORD at the entrance of that gateway. [Ezekiel 46:3]
Today’s reading describes how God renews the old covenant arrangements of the temple and the sacrifice after the temple had been destroyed.
In other words, this is still an old testament, pre-Christ arrangement.
All of these details – the Sabbath, the New Moon, the temple, the sacrifices, the atonement for the prince – were symbolic of the guilt of the people and the grace of God in providing forgiveness and hope.
And so this chapter is a reminder that God still loves and forgives His people, and still wants them to admit their sin and their need for His grace.
Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” [Matthew 12:5-8]
Jesus is challenged because of how He appears to oppose God’s Law; Jesus points out that He is doing what the old covenant priests did – working on the Sabbath to reveal God’s grace and mercy.
By comparing Himself to the priests, He is making a serious claim about Himself.
But He goes further, and says that He is Lord of the Sabbath!
Jesus is declaring that He is the fulfillment of the old testament Law.
He is the living embodiment of God’s grace and mercy.
He represents what the temple, the sacrifices, the Sabbath and the New Moon celebrations were symbolically pointing to.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [Colossians 2:16-17]
As we read today’s reading, it’s easy to get bogged down and confused by the details.
But these are shadows, old covenant arrangements that point beyond themselves to Jesus.
For me, today’s reading is somewhat interesting, and boring, but the real highlight for me is how they remind me how awesome it is that Jesus has come, and made God’s grace and mercy clear.
We do not need to dwell on these old testament details, we can focus on Jesus.
For the reality is found in Christ!
Come to Him, enter through His gate, and offer your heart to Him!
PRAYER:
Lord, I admit that the details of the old testament confuse me. Thank You for stepping in to make God’s love and forgiveness clear.
Rules for worship are prescribed here for the rulers and the people. Do this and live. And the heart of worship is God. When? At all times. God is first every day. Every day you shall do this were the instructions. It was very much a visual reminder to be living in the presence of the Lord.
And today? What reminders do I have to show that I am in His presence every day? What is my habit? Ritual? Expression? Doing? How do I put Christ Jesus first each day?
Draw me close God by the reading of your Word and my ‘talks’ with You each day. Today God Is First also in my rituals of starting the day with You. Open my eyes Lord and my ears so that I may see You throughout the day and hear Your voice guiding me along the way. Do this and live. Help me to live each day in Your presence through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ – your Son.
As You spoke to the people of ‘old’ so speak to me that I may hear loud and clear. Do this and live. Life long learning and life long worship in all I do and say.
Come in to His presence singing Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Come in to His presence singing Jesus is Lord,
Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord.
Come in to His presence singing Glory to God,
Glory to God, Glory to God.