6 Jul 2016, Ezekiel 46 以西结书 46, The Prince and Feasts 君王和节期

Posted on Jul 4, 2016 in Devotions, Ezekiel |

Scripture Reading  : Ezekiel 46

Theme                      : The Prince and Feasts

 

The prince will lead the Jews in worship of God. This prince is not Jesus because he will have children (v.16) and offers sacrifices to God for his sins. His role is mainly pertaining to religious functions, not civil or political. In the Millennial Kingdom, Sabbaths, new moons, Jubilee and other sacrifices and feasts will be celebrated. This does not contradict NT teaching on OT feasts (Col. 2:16). The OT laws were designed to show Jews how to live a holy life for God, separated from their pagan neighbors. OT laws do not save anyone since no one can earn a right standing before God by keeping the laws. Only faith in God and Jesus can give a sinner a right standing before God (Rom. 3:21-22). Paul was not against OT laws as long as the Jews do not think OT laws can save them. Paul even continued to worship and perform purification rites with sacrifices at the temple after he became a Christian (Acts 21:26). Sabbath is a gift to all mankind, including Christians. It is not meant to be practiced legalistically (Mark 2:27). Resting in God one day out of a week shows trust and humility in God, even for Christians.

Again, land inheritance right is important for God’s people, just as it was in the OT. Having land means being part of God’s kingdom on earth.


Praying the Scripture

All laws of God are rooted in the character of God. However, just as the application of legal laws in our society can be complex because of varying situations, so God’s laws can be complex depending on the situation. We need wisdom to understand God’s laws properly, especially OT laws, in order to obey God properly and maximize our lives for God and for others. Christians do not need to obey any OT laws unless they are repeated in the NT and correspond to NT teachings. The Old Covenant as a whole has been abolished (Heb. 8:13). Christians do not need to observe OT ritual laws in order to live holy lives for God (Gal. 5:6). God’s laws in the Millennial Kingdom will be somewhat different because the context/dispensation is different. Those who think observing OT laws are required to be saved have fallen from grace and preach another gospel, i.e., heresy (Gal. 5:4). Pray for wisdom to understand God’s NT and OT so that you may believe and live correctly; and be effective for gospel witness. Putting unnecessary OT laws before unbelievers hinders the spread of the gospel, the main mission of the church. This would be a serious sin that needs to be repented of.
 
 
 
 

经文：以西结书46

主题：君王和节期

 

君王将带领犹太人敬拜神。这位君王并不是耶稣，因为他将有子（16节），又要为自己的罪向神献祭。他的角色主要与宗教性的场合有关，而不是民事性或政治性的。在千禧年里，他们将守安息日、月朔、喜年及其他节期。这并不与新约对守旧约节期的教导起冲突（西2:16）。旧约律法的目的是要向犹太人说明他们当如何为神过与外邦邻国有别的圣洁生活。既然无人能靠旧约律法无愧地站在神面前，律法是无法使人得救的。唯有信靠神与耶稣才能叫罪人在神面前站立得住（罗3:21-22）。只要犹太人了解旧约律法不能使人得救，保罗是不会反对律法的。保罗甚至在信主后仍继续到圣殿里敬拜神并献祭行洁净的礼（使21:26）。安息日是神予人类的恩赐，包括基督徒。我们不当按律例守安息日（可2:27）。当我们在一周里腾出一天的时间在神里安息时，这能显出人对神的谦卑和信靠，包括基督徒的。

这里再次显出土地的继承对神的子民是主要的，与旧约时代时一样。拥有土地意味着人将与神在地上的国有份。


用经文祷告

神的一切律例本于神的属性。可是，就如社会对律法的实施可以因某种状况复杂化，神的律法也能按具体情况变得复杂。我们需要智慧以正确理解神的律法，特别是旧约的，才能正确地遵从神，有效地为神与他人生活。除非旧约律法在新约中重复或与新约教导相似，基督徒不用守任何旧约律法。旧约已经无效了（来8:13）。基督徒无需守旧约律法中的仪式以为神过圣洁的生活（加5:6）。神在千禧国度中的律例将有些变化，因为时代有别。凡认为人必须守律法才能得救的已从恩典中坠落了，传的是另一个福音，即异教（加5:4）。求神给我们智慧理解祂的旧约和新约书，叫我们能按正义信主和生活，并有效地见证福音。将无用的旧约律法摆在非信徒面前只会阻碍福音的传播，也就是教会主要的宗旨。我们若如此行，就要为这项严重的罪悔改。