A continuation of God's revealed description of the coming Temple and people who will live there.
Chapter 45
The giant footprint of the new Temple grounds should be divided into lots with a holy place in the center, surrounded by an open, holy barrier space, and the sanctuary. this is protected, holy space–not to be desecrated. Then there will be space as an inheritance for those ministering to the Lord and out from that space for the Levites doing the menial work. Out from that is an allotment for the house of Israel. Located on either side of the holy space should be two allotments for the prince.
This is God's plan for a new peaceful inheritance for His people. This should sound familiar–God carves out a space for Himself, but makes provision for His people, and specifically those who serve Him and those who will worship Him.
Starting in verse 9, God commands the princes to stop violence and destruction and to reestablish justice and righteousness. They are to stop stealing and start honoring fair weights and measures. Then he sets specific standards for how weights and measures and money should be valued. Then He provides the appropriate offerings based on those measures and values.
In verse 15, He's listing the items for an atonement offering, showing again that this isn't an abstract reference to Jesus. They are going to have to atone during this season. It's still just a gesture of faith, because they can't actually pay for their own sins, but the opportunity to just say a prayer of faith and receive Jesus' atonement doesn't seem to be the route that's taken here. Probably because Jesus will be there, so it's not actually faith, but sight.
These offerings will go to the prince of Israel. Then the prince has to provide the actual burnt offerings, grain, libations, etc., as well as provisions for feasts, sabbaths, and atonement.
More specific information about offerings starts in verse 18. There's a new year offering and cleansing ritual, and atonement ritual, Passover rituals, and the same for the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month.
Chapter 46
This chapter goes on the describe offers on sabbaths, new moons, and daily. The Ryrie footnote refers to these as memorials to the finish sacrifice of Christ. Like we take communion in remembrance of His saving sacrifice; except they never accepted Him, so their remembrance will be more involved until the Millennial Kingdom ends and we enter perfected eternity.
‘Thus says the Lord God, “The gate of the inner court facing east shall be shut the six working days; but it shall be opened on the sabbath day and opened on the day of the new moon. 2 The prince shall enter by way of the porch of the gate from outside and stand by the post of the gate. Then the priests shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate and then go out; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3 The people of the land shall also worship at the doorway of that gate before the Lord on the sabbaths and on the new moons. Ezekiel 46:1–3
Here's the full description for one of these rituals, this one being for sabbaths and new moons. It goes on the list the type and quantity of the offerings for sabbaths and new moons. For these events, the prince will come in and leave from the same gate; but when the people come through, they enter by the north or south gate and leave by the opposite gate in a straight line.
This is interesting, when the people come in, the prince comes in; when the people leave, he leaves. I wonder if that's to make him more equal, like the kings were suppose to be. He has to respond to them, instead of being displayed on a perch above them, like the Pope.
Next, starting in verse 11 is the description of festival offerings, including a freewill offering from the prince. Again, to me, this shows me that God is placing a tighter restriction on the government official. And, of course, there is no mention of the role of the priest, because there is only one Priest and He'll do what is perfect without need of instructions here.
Next are instructions for daily offerings.
Starting in verse 16, we see how God wants the prince to manage his inheritance. He can give part of his inheritance to his sons and it will become theirs. However, if he gives anything to other people, they have to give it back in the year of liberty (probably year of jubilee). And then this restriction on the prince:
The prince shall not take from the people’s inheritance, thrusting them out of their possession; he shall give his sons inheritance from his own possession so that My people will not be scattered, anyone from his possession.”’” Ezekiel 46:18
Again, the Lord seems to be tightening the language to prevent the government leaders from grabbing power through land grabs. They can't permanently give away land and they cannot take it from the people. Makes power consolidation much harder. All of this makes it seem like attempts at corruption will continue during this era.
Starting in verse 19 we see guidance for preparing the offerings.
Verse 20 is describing the "kitchen" for preparing the sacrifices, but take a close look at the last sentence:
He said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering and where they shall bake the grain offering, in order that they may not bring them out into the outer court to transmit holiness to the people.” Ezekiel 46:20
This is similar to what He said about the priests having to leave their ministerial clothes behind. I am so curious about this. It shows that this era is significantly different by having Jesus in house. This whole process is made holy in way that was only symbolic in the previous, pre-Millennial times. These offerings are made holy by the true Sacrifice already provided for the people. But they are kept separate from it until they come to a saving knowledge of Hm. The glow left Moses as we went back to the people; but now the glow is among them and is to be kept separate. It's so interesting.
Finally, in this chapter, Ezekiel is brought to the outer court where there were four "kitchens" provided for the people to prepare they sacrifices. There were no prohibitions, which tells me that their sacrifices aren't directly infused with the same holiness provided by those sacrifices overseen by the prince.
I have to say, I am eternally grateful to be covered by the sacrifice of my Savior. He made it easy for us, some argue too easy for us; and we received the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. I didn't earn this path or deserve it; but I am so so grateful for it. Thank you Jesus. Thank you, Abba. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Jehovah Elohim is Jehovah alone. Our God is One.
Amen.