Ezekiel 46:1-24
Q.1. What special role does the Prince fulfil for the people of the land? In what way and how often does he lead the people? – (Ezk.46:1-10)
The Prince will have an honoured role in leading God’s people in the making of offerings to God, under the direction of the Priests – 1 `… “The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon. 2 The Prince shall enter by way of the porch of the gate from outside and stand by the post of the gate. Then the Priests shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate and then go out; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening (46:1-2). His offerings are to be – without blemish (Ezk.46:4 & 6). The grain and oil offerings are to be – as much as he is able to give (Ezk.46:5 & 7). The Prince enters and leaves by way of the porch, and leaves via the same exit. He can mingle with the people but will leave when they leave (Ezk.46:8 & 10). Not so the people. They must exit from the opposite direction they entered, whether by the east or west gates (Ezk.46:9).
Q.2. What offerings are to be given to the Lord? How frequently do the Priests make these offerings? How will order be administered? – (Ezk.46:11-18)
Details are written regarding the offerings to be made at the festivals and Sabbaths when the eastern gate is opened to the Prince. After completing his offerings, he then leaves and the eastern gate is closed once again (Ezk.46:11-12). Every day the Priests are to provide a one-year-old lamb without blemish for a burnt offering to the Lord, along with the grain and oil offerings, continually by perpetual ordinance (Ezk.46:13-15). Guidelines were also given to ensure that the tribal lands of the Prince would revert back to his descendants every fifty years at the year of liberty (Ezk.46:16-18). In the Millennium, Christ will reign with a rod of iron, reinforced by the order and authority of the Prince (Isa.2:3-4; 11:1-5; Rev.19:15-17). There will still be distinctions between King Jesus, the Prince, the Priests and the Levites, the servants, and the people.
(Ezk.43:12 c.f. Exo.19:9-23; Heb.13:18-21, 28-29).
Q.3. Why are guilt and sin offerings boiled in a separate place? What does this say about the holiness of God? – (Ezk.46:19-24)
Specific ordinances were given to ensure a separation between the offering prescribed to atone for sin, and the general offerings to be given in thankfulness to God for His provision. This was to prevent – transmitting holiness to the people (Ezk.46:20 c.f. Ezk.42:13 & 20; 43:12; 44:23; Hag.2:10-13). We will be forever reminded that God alone is holy in Himself – This is the law of the house: its entire area on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy …