Wed.’s Devo - The Priesthood

Read: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12; 1 Peter 1:1-12; Psalm 119:17-32; Procures 28:8-10 God brought Ezekiel back to the east gateway where the glory of God had entered the Temple, but now it was closed. God told him that the gate was to remain closed forever and only the prince himself could sit inside this gateway to feast in the Lord’s presence. But, he could go right up to the gate through the entry room. On the night that Jesus was going to be betrayed he went up to Gethsemene where he sat with a perfect view of that gate. *** God told Ezekiel to take special notice of the entrances and exits of this Temple and tell the people. They were not entering God’s Temple in the right way. They were carrying into the Temple so much sin in their hearts. The Levites who strayed from the Lord would have to pay the penalty for their unfaithfulness. The faithful family of Zadok will enter God’s sanctuary and serve him at his table. *** The priests would serve wearing only linen and nothing that would make them sweat. This is not a religion of works. They must take off their linen clothes when they leave the sanctuary so that they don’t transmit holiness to others through their clothing. *** The regulations of the priests about cutting their hair, drinking wine and who to marry was all to show the people the difference between what was common and what was holy. It was all to show that there were boundaries they had to stay within. *** The priests owned only what the people gave to the Lord. It was to be their first fruits, so the priests were given the best. This was their pay for ministering to the Lord for the people. *** Land closest to the Temple was to be left empty. The priests were to live in a special plot of land next to the empty land. Next to this land where the priests lived would be a section for the people. There would be a special section for the prince on both the east and west sides. This will be the end of the princes robbing the people out of their land. Everyone will have their own boundaries. Then the Lord gave Ezekiel a standard of measuring so that it would stop the dishonesty in business. *** The first letter of Peter’s was written to Christians living in parts of Asia Minor who were suffering persecution for their faith. He refers to them as “pilgrims of the Dispersion” which referred to the exiles of Israel in the Old Testament. They were like people without a country. These were mainly Gentiles who chose Jesus as their Savior. These were once hardened sinners who had became new creatures in Christ. *** Peter wrote to encourage them in their growth. He prayed for them to have more and more grace and peace. He reminded them of the prize which was an inheritance of heaven. Their faith was being tested through the fire of persecution but their faith was worth more than gold and silver to the Lord. Their reward was the salvation of their soul. Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation. Thank you for your faithfulness to your Word.