Day 254 – Ezekiel 46-48

Talking Points

• The prince’s offerings are prescribed. Again, notice he will worship the Lord — further evidence that he is not the Messiah. Also, if the prince chooses to give a gift of land, it should be taken from his son’s inheritance, and not from the people. God’s gift to His people shall be permanent and secure from the dealings of man.
• A magnificent river is flowing from the temple, becoming progressively deeper as it flows. The banks of the river are lined with trees which produce fruit year-round. The leaves of the trees are used for healing. The river will empty into a freshwater sea providing a bounty of fish with fishermen happily gathering the harvest of the sea. What an inviting picture!
• In an amazingly profound statement, the book of Ezekiel ends with orders for the division of the land between the tribes of Israel. God has not forgotten His people, His Word has not failed, and His promises will be upheld. Many years earlier, as young Abram stood on the edge of the land of Canaan, God declared, “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8). In the coming millennial kingdom, each tribe will have its portion. Each portion will be given in equity, with each piece like that of the others (Ezekiel 47:14). God is fair. And, most of all, God is faithful!

Thoughts

As the book of Ezekiel ends, I can’t help but think, “There’s a lot in a name.” See, Ezekiel was an exiled prophet with a ministry to those exiled with him in Babylon. God’s messages through Ezekiel were to serve as reminders of the sins that had brought about God’s judgment, and, at the same time, to proclaim and instill confidence in God’s covenant and future blessing. So, when I learned that Ezekiel means “God strengthens,” I thought, “Of course it does.” What a fitting name for such a minister.

But, that wasn’t the best part. That came in the very last part of the very last verse: “…and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘Yahweh Shammah'” — ‘The LORD is there” (Ezekiel 48:35).

After all of the reproach on Israel, after all of the idolatry, after all of the false prophets and false shepherds, after all the slander of God’s name, after all of the judgments and wrath had been poured out, Yahweh Shammah.

Then, in the promise of the restoration of Israel, in the goodness of the true Shepherd, in His new covenant, in the new temple, in the memorial offerings pointing to the Lamb, in the return of the glory of God, in the life-giving river, and in all of the faithfulness, Yahweh Shammah.

From that day on and forever, the very name of the city — its reputation, fame, and glory will be in the truth that ‘The LORD is there!” Whoooo! What a God!