(REFLECTIONS ON EZEKIEL 46:1-24)

As we read Old Testament Scripture, we must remember that it represents both a physical reality and hope for Israel, a remembrance of their past and vision for the future, but is also symbolic of the hope we have as the church that goes beyond physical structures, land, and life, and crosses over into the spiritual realm as well.

If we lose sight of these things, then we may not fully grasp what the Old Testament and the writings of the prophets have to do with our hope in Christ, and we may also get lost in the judgments of God and forget that mercy triumphs over judgment. It is a full cup we balance as modern readers of Scripture, but it is also in the fullness that makes Scripture so rich and bold in flavor.

We are reminded in the Book of Hebrews that the physical temple, the physical sanctuary is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven (Hebrews 8:5). Also, “Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us God’s presence.” (Hebrews 9:24)

In today’s Scripture, we see an image of worship in a new temple with the prince serving his proper role as the servant leader of the people of God. This is a promise to Israel that there will be revival in the land, and they as the people of God will once again be in the land, God will be their God, and they will be His people in worship.

Regarding the order of worship, we read in today’s Scripture,

9 “‘When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate. 

Practically speaking, we know this will help alleviate any chaos from people going back and forth and creating a log jam entering and exiting the temple. However, this also reminds us as the church, that there is only one way, and once we have made a commitment to Christ we must live a life of faith all the way until the end, not returning the way that we came from.

Regarding the prince,

8 When the prince enters, he is to go in through the portico of the gateway, and he is to come out the same way.

The prince also can be symbolic of Christ, as the sacrifice for us, and will meet us in our one way faith journey. His path, however, is not one way, but a two way path, showing us how Jesus Christ walks in His creation continuing to seek the lost, and how He is present constantly in our lives no matter where we are on our faith journey.

May our faith journey be a one way road leading us from our brokenness to our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. For Jesus is the presence from the East that serves as our bridge as we pass through the sanctuary to our Holy God. This also a reminder to us to be firm and steadfast in our faith, to endure and to trust in the Lord, and never to give up the hope that we have in Him.

Yes, we may stumble and fall, and sometimes it feels like we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, during those times, may we remember that our Prince of Peace, our Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ is there in the middle ready to carry us through to the end.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezekiel 46