Sun.’s Devo - The Order of the Tribes

Read: Ezekiel 47:1-48:35; 1 Peter 2:11-3:7; Psalm 119:49-64; Proverbs 28:12-13
God took Ezekiel to the eastern side of the temple to observe a river that flowed from the south side (earth) out the eastern gate. He walked through water that got deeper and deeper until his feet couldn’t no longer touch the ground. This was a picture of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the earth. The farther you walk in the Spirit, the more you lose control and he carries you. Life is in the Holy Spirit and it is given to everyone who draws near. You decide how deep you want to go in it.
God’s people are suppose to be the salt of the earth. In the Spirit, the salty become renewed. The trees that are along the sides of the river that bear fruit are the people that choose to get their nourishment in the river of life - the flow of the Spirit. They will bear fruit just like Psalm 1 says about the man who walks in the Spirit. He will bear fruit in every season of life.
God gave Ezekiel the boundaries of his land. The land inside the boundaries was to be divided among the tribes in stripes starting at the top and going south. The top down was: Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Rueben, Judah, then the city where the sanctuary dwells. The Levites were to live in the city to tend to the duties of the temple. The prince would own land on both sides of the temple. The next tribal lands would be owned by Benjamin, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad. Every tribe would have their own gate into the city. Rueben, Judah, and Levi would enter the north gates. Joseph, Benjamin and Dan would enter the gates on the east. Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun would enter the gates on the south and Gad, Asher, and Naphtali would enter the western gavels. The name of the city would be “The Lord is There.”
I love First Peter. Whoever told us we had to sin every day had not understood the Bible correctly. Today we read to abstain from sinful desires as if it is totally possible to do that, because it is! If we submit to God’s authority we can walk in righteousness. That is the power that the Holy Spirit gives us to overcome our desires and choose God’s. Jesus was our example of how a man with earthly desires could lay them down to follow God and walk in righteousness.
We honor the authority of God by obeying the authorities on earth - even when the authority is harsh and unjust. God will give us grace.
Lord, open truth to us and give us a double measure of your Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness and truth.