Thurs.’s Devo - The Office of the Priests and the Prince

Read: Ezekiel 45:13-46:24; 1 Peter 1:13-2:10; Psalm 119:33-48; Proverbs 28:11 Taxes were a set rate to be given to the prince and he was to use the money to buy all the offerings for all the religious celebrations, and holy days. They would once again celebrate God’s feasts. On the first day on the religious calendar the priest would put blood on the doorposts of the Temple and the four corners of the upper ledge of the altar and the gateposts of the entrance of the inner courtyard. *** The priest was to do this again on the seventh day of the first month to purify the Temple. On the fourteenth day of that month they must all celebrate the Passover for seven days. This is the celebration of Unleavened Bread. The prince would provide the flour and oil and the animals for the sacrifices. *** The prince would offer the animals for the seven day celebration during the fall festivals as well. *** The eastern gateway of the inner courtyard would be closed during the six workdays but open on the Sabbath and the days of the new moon celebration. The prince will enter through that gateway and stand by the gatepost where he will watch the offerings being performed by the priests. Then he would go out the way he came. The people would enter either the north or south gates and go out the opposite gate. We should never enter God’s presence and leave the same. *** A sacrifice must be offered every morning. *** The prince might give a gift of land to one of his sons. It will be his permanent inheritance. But if he gives land to one of his servants, he may keep it only until the Year of Jubilee. The prince could only give land from his own land. *** The man led Ezekiel to the west of the Temple and showed him where the priests were to cook the meat and bake the grain offerings into bread. Ezekiel was led to the outer courtyard and in each of the corners were fireplaces where they boiled the sacrifices. *** Peter encouraged us to prepare our minds to actively exercise self-control. We must remain holy as God is. Everyone will be judged or rewarded according to what they do. Our lives were paid for by the blood of Christ, so we are to love one another. *** We are not born again to die, but our new life will last forever because our salvation comes from the Word which is alive forever. We should cry out for the nourishment that comes from the Word of God. *** We trust in the cornerstone of God’s Temple, Jesus Christ. We are his royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession,. We are now God’s people and are called to be light in the dark world to bring others to the wonderful salvation we have received in Christ.