2 Jul 2016, Ezekiel 43 以西结书 43, God Returns to His Temple on Earth 神回到祂在地上的殿

Posted on Jun 26, 2016 in Devotions, Ezekiel |

Scripture Reading  : Ezekiel 43

Theme                      : God Returns to His Temple on Earth

 

The Glory of God Fills the Temple (1-12)

To show that God has returned to His temple, God physically indicated His return with sounds of many waters (v.2). When the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) and the Solomon temple (2 Chron. 5:14) were completed, God’s glory also filled them. The description of God’s presence in His new glorious temple is meant to shame the Jews and cause them to repent (v.10).

Sacrifices at the Altar (13-27). Even though Jesus has completely paid for the sins of sinners on the cross, there will still be sacrifices during Jesus’ millennial reign. God does not specify the reason for this. Most likely it is a way for sinners to be reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus just as the Lord’s Supper is done in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice (1 Cor. 11:24). Also it gives sinners a way to repair His relationship with God after he sins or after defilement. In the OT sacrifices did not save the sinner, it was their faith that saves. Sacrifices repair a sinner’s relationship with God and it is also a way to show dedication to God. Even the apostles continued to worship at the temple after Jesus was crucified and resurrected (Acts 21:26), but they did not require gentiles to worship at the temple. Different dispensation or setting or context, requires different actions by believers as stipulated by God.

 

Praying the Scripture

The Jews worshipped idols in order to make a name, a kingdom for themselves, but when they compared their foolish, dishonorable actions and kingdom to God’s true glory and His glorious kingdom, they were in shame. Pray that you will be filled with the hope of God’s glorious eternal kingdom on earth so that you will not foolishly try to build your own feeble, idolatrous kingdom on earth that will be destroyed by God’s kingdom and be in shame like the Jews. Do not pursue idols, obey God and live for His eternal kingdom on earth.
 
 
 
 

经文：以西结书43

主题：神回到祂在地上的殿

 

神的荣光充盈圣殿（1-12）。

为要显明神回到了祂的殿，神用了多水的声音让人经历祂的归来。当帐幕（出40:34）和所罗门的殿（代下5:14）完成后，神的荣耀也充满了两者。神与祂荣耀新所之同在的叙述是要使犹太人自觉羞愧，叫他们悔改（10节）。

祭坛上的祭物（13-27）。虽然耶稣在十字架上已经完全偿还了罪人的罪债，耶稣千禧年的统治中仍会有献祭。神并没有列出其中的原因。这有可能是要提醒罪人耶稣为他们所作的牺牲，如同守圣餐是要纪念主被献上一样（林前11:24）。再者，这也给予罪人在他犯罪之后或被玷污之后与神修复关系的途径。旧约时，祭物并不能拯救罪人，唯独他们的信心能使他们得救。献祭能修复罪人与神的关系，也是人委身于神的象征。就连众使徒在耶稣被钉复活后仍继续在圣殿敬拜（使21:26），但他们不要求外邦人到圣殿敬拜。信徒在不同的时代背景的敬拜方式是不一样的，这按神而定。

 

用经文祷告

犹太人拜偶像的目的是要为自己立名、立国，但当他们将自己愚蠢又不光彩的行为和国度与神属实的荣光和荣耀的国度相比时，他们便蒙羞了。祷告你会被神在地上将有永恒荣耀之国的盼望充满，叫你不会愚昧地想在地上建立自己微小、污秽的国度，因为神最终必然毁灭一切，叫你像犹太人一样蒙羞。不要追求偶像，乃要遵从神，为祂在地上的永恒国度生活。