Ezekiel 44 continues the teaching from God about the Temple. This chapter deals with the role of the priests. It starts with an interaction with the glory of God. I love how Ezekiel responds: “I fell on my face in worship”. How do you respond when you come into the presence of God? Do you ever consider that? When you enter into prayer or walk into worship, do you recognize that you are entering His presence and approaching His throne. Sometimes I sort of treat Him like “one of the guys” – pretty comfortable and not really with the fear and respect I need to. God is not my buddy. He is not just another person sitting in the pew beside me. He is God. He is the great “I AM”. I need to really consider how I can “fall on my face” in reverence and worship. Much to learn and pray through here – just how I relate to the awesome God we serve.
I also was struck by what God says to Ezekiel about paying attention as well. Check this out: “GOD said to me, “Son of man, get a grip on yourself. Use your eyes, use your ears, pay careful attention to everything I tell you”. Hello – heaven to you. Are you using your senses to get God’s direction for your life. I know sometimes I want to just sit back and wait for God to reveal His will for me. I want Him to send me a big old message I can’t possibly miss. I know a lot of the rest of you are the same way. After all, it is God’s job to make sure I understand isn’t it? He needs to make sure I know exactly what He wants me to do. Not exactly….it is my responsibility to seek Him and understand His plan. He doesn’t line up with me – I line up with Him. I need to actively seek with all He has created in me. It is up to me to “pay careful attention to everything” – that means exactly what it sounds like – I need to be actively focused on and engaged in relationship with Him – my responsibility to seek and seek and seek until I find – with all that I am because He created me with senses and a brain. Don’t blame God if you don’t know what He wants you to. He doesn’t hide it from us, but He also doesn’t always write it in the sky in big letters either. We need to seek it with all our heart – to be in tune with His direction and will.
The rules of the Temple for the priests are written pretty clearly. “Their job is to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common”. I love how the Message version puts it. Help people understand the difference between things of God and things of the earth. Help people know what matters. We are called “priests” a number of times in the New Testament and I think this role is for you and me too, particularly with our family and kids, but in reality for all we touch. What is truth and of God vs. what is of man and full of baloney. We need to know and the standard for that comes from one place – God’s Word. We have a responsibility. Are you doing your job?
