(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 45:1-25)

Israel’s princes were to lead the people and be examples of how to serve the Lord. However, as we read about the princes of Israel in our reading of the Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets, we often come across words like conspiracy, evil, rebellion, associated with them (ref. Hosea). There was so much backstabbing in the kingdom because of their struggle for power.

With God’s people being called back to the land of Israel, the princes will no longer hoard the land and resources of the kingdom for themselves. In today’s Scripture, we read that the Lord’s princes will no longer oppress His people but will allow the people of Israel to possess the land. In fact, it is God’s command for the princes of Israel to give up their violence and oppression and to do what is just and right.

8 This land will be his possession in Israel. And my princes will no longer oppress my people but will allow the people of Israel to possess the land according to their tribes. 9 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. 

As we continue to read, we see that it will be the duty of the prince to provide for the different offerings, rather than to use what he has for his own purposes and keeping it for his own use.

17 It will be the duty of the prince to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings and drink offerings at the festivals, the New Moons and the Sabbaths—at all the appointed festivals of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to make atonement for the Israelites.

22 On that day the prince is to provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land. 23 Every day during the seven days of the festival he is to provide seven bulls and seven rams without defect as a burnt offering to the Lord, and a male goat for a sin offering. 24 He is to provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull and an ephah for each ram, along with a hin of olive oil for each ephah.

Christian leadership is also about providing. A leader is one that provides, and it is the church’s responsibility to raise up leaders that can provide, that can lead by example, and lead as one of the group, rather than setting themselves apart from the group.

It is my expectation that the English Ministry at SLPC raises up leaders. Leaders not to meet their own needs, and fulfill their own desires, but that can provide. May we begin by throwing away the notion that only a select few are meant to be leaders, and acknowledge that Christian leadership is part of the discipleship process as we grow from being a newborn Christian, to a mature Christian.

Let’s do this together, with the Holy Spirit’s leading, in the name of Jesus Christ, for our God and Father in heaven.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezekiel 45