Ezekiel 44 reminds me that there are many traits that are highly regarded, but God seems to recognize one above all others. The world focuses on what we look like on the outside, but we don’t have much control over our genetics. The quality God repeatedly identifies is faithfulness. It is so uncommon, He even notes when someone is faithful in just one thing. We tend to only notice its absence after someone reliable is late, or something important is missing. In today’s chapter we see that things become holy when God makes them holy. Common things become uncommon when they are used by God. Ezekiel is still being shown the Temple of God in a vision, when his angelic tour guide “brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east… it was shut“. He is told, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened…because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it“. The glory of God had passed through this gate to fill the Temple with His presence. “I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple of the Lord, and I fell facedown“. A building, or a gate or a person becomes exceptional when God uses them for His purpose. Do you feel common?
Ezekiel is given instruction about those that are to serve in the Temple. These are the same regulations given for Solomon’s first Temple, but God adds some insight. What happened to the prior Temple? “You brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into My sanctuary, desecrating My temple“. The kings of Israel had brought enemy kings into the Tempe to impress them with how much God had blessed them. The holy place became a museum rather than a place of worship. Fellowship ceased and eventually the enemy came back to plunder all their treasures. 1 Corinthians 6 reminds us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies“. 1 Peter 1:16 repeats a promise, “Be holy, because I am holy“.
He is given instructions about the Levites who had wandered away from God’s purposes. Because they led the nation far from God, “They are not to come near to serve Me as priests or come near any of My holy things“. Their service would be restricted to the mundane things outside the sanctuary. Here is a principle for those of us that feel like we have fallen short. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). The Levites were given an opportunity to keep a small role. Colossians 3:23 reminds us “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord“. As the chapter closes God gave the duties of Priests to the “descendants of Zadok” because they alone remained faithful when the rest of the nation turned from God. God says that in their work, in their dress, in their words and in their actions they are to “teach My people the difference between the holy and the common“. In return God also promises them that He will be faithful! “I am to be the only inheritance the priests have“. How do we guard our hearts? “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Is God calling you to be faithful with one thing?