Ezekiel 44:1-31
Q.1. How do we know that the prince is not the Lord Jesus? When will God fulfil His promise to David made generations before? – (Ezk.44:1-3)
Ezekiel had seen King Jesus come through the eastern gate into the temple (Ezk.43:1-5). Therefore – This gate will be shut and will not be opened. No one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, entered by it … (Ezk.44:2). He was told that the Davidic prince was given access to King Jesus to eat at His table with Him in the Temple (Ezk.41:22). The prince would enter by the porch of the gate (Ezk.44:3 c.f. Rev.3:20). There is a clear distinction between King Jesus and the prince. God promised David that after he died – I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons … and I will establish his throne forever (c.f. 1 Chron.17:11-12). We learn later that the prince will make sacrifices for the people … but also for himself, so this cannot refer to Jesus (Ezk.45:17 & 22; 46:2). King Jesus rules over the whole world (Isa.2:4; 11:1-5; Zech.14:9; Rev.19:15). The Davidic prince will rule over the twelve tribes of Israel, with the aid of the twelve apostles (c.f. Mt.19:28).
Q.2. What was God’s message to the priests in Ezekiel’s day? What did God’s appointment of the sons of Zadok reveal about Him? – (Ezk.44:4-16)
Ezekiel was again confronted with the Glory of God, which caused him to fall before the Lord (Ezk.44:4). He was strongly reminded to document everything carefully as a rebuke to the rebellious house of Israel, and the unfaithful priests and Levites who led the people astray and annulled their Covenant with the Lord (Ezk.44:5-10, 12-13 c.f. Ezk.43:10-11). After this denunciation of the Levites, Ezekiel was shown a future generation of Levites, who – 11 … will minister in My sanctuary. They will act as guards at the gates and serve at the temple. They will kill the burnt sacrifices for the people. They will stand to represent the people …  13 They will not come near to Me to serve as priests. They will not come near to any of My holy things. They will bear their shame and disgrace for doing the things I hate. 14 Yet I will appoint them as caretakers and support workers of the temple ministries. (Ezk.44:11, 13-14). How different was the honour bestowed upon the priestly descendants of Zadok. These – 15 ‘sons of Zadok from the priestly line of Levi, who performed the duties of My sanctuary when Israel went astray from Me, will come near to minister to Me. Only they will stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood,’ declares the Lord God. 16 ‘Only they will enter My Holy Place. Only they will come near to My table to minister to Me. Only they will perform the priestly duties for Me. (Ezk.44:15-16). The Lord takes note of faithfulness, and honours those who seek to honour Him.
Q.3. What guidelines and provisions did God give the descendants of Zadok, in order to safeguard the whole-heartedness of their service to God? – (Ezk.44:15-31)
Zechariah was told that a third of Israel will survive at Christ’s return and will still have natural bodies (Zec.12:10-13:1, 8). The priests of Zadok among them will have strict standards of dress, grooming, diet, and holiness (Ezk.44:17-23). They are only to marry virgins (or widows of consecrated priests) and are to refrain from normal mourning while consecrated. They are to maintain justice, and – … They shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean … they shall also keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed feasts and sanctify My sabbaths (Ezk.44:23-24 c.f. Ezk.44:22-25). I will relish these explanations of the Law, in the light of the finished work of Christ on the cross. (c.f. Lk.24:32) Not only has a veil concealed Christ from Israel, but very few Christians have any idea why God established the ceremonial law (c.f. 2 Cor.3:14-15). All will be explained by King Jesus, as He presents the Gospel from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21). The priests of Zadok will receive adequate meals from the sacrificial portions, and all the first fruits of the nations (Ezk.44:29-31). God declared that they will need no inheritance for – I am their possession (Ezk.44:28).Â