Ezekiel 46 Commentary
Fact check: first, there is no temple in Jerusalem at this time; second, there is no prince ruling over the people; third, there are actually no people in the city. What has happened? War has happened. Babylon has attacked Jerusalem. Many people have been killed and others have been scattered. Actually, even the prophet Ezekiel is writing from his Babylonian home in exile.
The LORD would gather the people from the many nations to which the LORD scattered them. It would be a fresh start for Israel. The Temple of the LORD would be rebuilt. Let the people restart under the leadership of the LORD! So the Torah Temple systems are repeated to the people.
The first section highlights the importance of leadership in the worship of the Creator God. The ruling prince is to lead by example at the Temple of the LORD. He must observe the rules. The lambs and rams must be without defects! But as we shall read in Malachi, post-exile Israel isn’t anything different. They bring in deformed animals!
These pages are a reminder to the people of Ezekiel’s time and also the generations after, including us, that the worship of the LORD is serious ‘business’.
It is not a huge mention but verse 9 envisions a nation that reflects on the generosity of the LORD by observing the many festivals commanded by the scripture. Chief among them would be the Passover which should remind them of God’s love. Will they respond in love and appreciation? Will they ponder the reason for the enslavement in the first place?
The daily offerings are a message that the saint must start each day with sacrifices of praise! They are the living sacrifice on the altar of the LORD!
There are rules outside the Temple systems that apply to the prince regarding land. The outside-temple transactions are of interest to the LORD. Let there is justice! Let business transactions be laced with the righteousness of the LORD! If it isn’t righteous, then don’t do it. Check if there is oppression at the other end of the transaction for that may define what is right or wrong.
More resources visit http://www.lovingscripture.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 