Tues.’s Devo - The Holiness of God’s Temple

Read: Ezekiel 42:1-43:27; James 5:1-20; Psalm 119:1-16; Provers 28:6-7 Ezekiel was led out of the Temple courtyard through the north gateway into the outer courtyard. There were a wall of rooms opening toward the north. One row of rooms overlooked the inner courtyard and another lookin out onto the pavement of the outer courtyard. These two rows were built three levels high with a hall that ran between them. Each level was narrower than the other. This was duplicated on the south side. *** The rooms that overlooked the Temple on both sides were holy. This was where the priests who offered sacrifices would eat the offerings. The holy offerings were also stored in these rooms. The priests had to change out of their white linen clothes that they wore while ministering to the Lord because they were holy. *** Next Ezekiel was to measure the entire perimeter of the Temple area which was 500 cubits square or 875 feet. All the area was holy. When the angel brought Ezekiel back to the east gateway the glory of the Lord appeared from the east. He could hear it as it came like a rushing of waters and the whole landscape shone with God’s glory. When he saw the glory, he fell to the ground. *** The Spirit took Ezekiel to the inner courtyard and he saw the glory fill the Temple. He told him that this was the place of his throne and the place where he would rest his feet. The people and their kings would no longer defile his holy Temple. *** Ezekiel was to tell what he had seen so that the people would be ashamed of all their sins. He was to describe the entrances and exits and the decrees and laws. He was to write them down so they could remember them and follow them. The basic law of the Temple was holiness. *** Ezekiel was given the measurements of the altar with its gutter and ledges. There was a horn on the four corners and the top measured 21 feet square or 12 cubits square. To sanctify the altar, the priest must offer a sin offering, and spread its blood on the four horns of the altar to cleanse and make atonement for the altar. The rest of the animal had to be burned at the appointed place outside the Temple area. *** On the second day, a male goat must be sacrificed to make atonement for the altar again. Then a young bull and a ram from the flock had to be presented to the Lord. All of the animals had to be spotless. The priest would sprinkle salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering to the Lord. *** Every day for seen days, a male goat, a young bull, and a ram from the flock had to be sacrificed as a sing offering. On the eight day the priest would sacrifice on the altar the burnt offerings and peace offerings of the people. Then the Lord would accept them. *** James had a rebuking word to the rich elites. Their wealth had become a stench to the Lord because they had ignored the cries of their workmen who were suffering. They had spent their life enjoying their luxuries at the expense of the hurting and oppressed. *** The Lord is coming back and we are to be patient when he doesn’t return when we think he will. He pointed to the sufferings of the prophets, and the suffering of Job. They all suffered while trusting God fully. *** James gives us practical ways we can endure while we are waiting for the Lord’s coming. IF we are suffering we should pray. If we are happy we should sing praises to the Lord. If we are sick, we should call for the elders to pray over us and anoint us with oil in the name of Jesus. We should confess our sins to each other and pray so that we might be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person reaps wonderful results. We should try to bring back those that wander from the faith. All these things are how we occupy until he comes. *** Lord, may we be found doing your business until you return.