Read Ezekiel 47-48
Verses chosen for reflection: Ezekiel 48:35 "The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.”
Reflect:
Ezekiel Chapters 40-48 talks about the final vision that was given to the prophet Ezekiel. The final vision contains very specific details on the size and content of the new temple, a new system of worship as well as a new city.
Some Christians believe that the final vision was given as a blueprint for a new temple and city to be built in the near future, during the 1000 years when Jesus returns at the interim. Some believe that the exiles should have built such a city and temple after they returned from the exile and failed to do so.
Some believe that the final vision is symbolic and as a whole, they give hope to the exiles and also to us, that someday, a new heaven and a new earth will be established for the cosmic restoration of humanity.
I lean on the symbolic approach that this vision of Ezekiel was given primarily as a powerful promise of hope to the exiles, as well as to all of humanity. The question to ask then would be, what kind of hope did it give to the exiles? What were they suppose to do after they have received the vision?
The kind of hope that was given to the exiles rest on verse 35, which promised that despite of what had happened, "the Lord is there". While the children of God transgressed so deeply against Him; God promised that some day, He will restore everything. And for those who repent and remained faithful, God will be with them.
This means that even as the exiles suffered physical and emotional hardship under their new masters; they were to know that God is sovereign. They were to persevere and be faithful because God is not dead. God is very much alive and in total control.
Some day, He will give their next generation a road to return to the Promised Land. Some day, all that was done wrong would be made right. Some day, all things will be made new. It will not be done by the good works or righteousness of anyone or groups of people. God Himself will do it.
Relate:
There is a tendency for us to rely on our own ways when we are suffering. Even as we cry out to God for help, we do not wait upon Him or meditate on His promises long enough to hear His voice on the next steps. We pay lip service in our love for God and become impatient to get out of the bad situation.
God knows. And this was also why a very detailed and powerful vision was given not only to the suffering exiles; but to all of us. Even as a redeemed people in Christ, we do suffer the tendency to try to be independent of God. We want to do it our way. We are impatient for things to get better.
The vision of Ezekiel sends the message that God wants us to turn our attention on Him. God wants us to turn our eyes on Him when the going gets tough (or even during ordinary times). God wants us to understand that He is the One to go to if we ever want restoration, if we ever want to renew our relationship with Him.
The Ezekiel vision seems like a grand fantasy or even an impossibility. Yet, it has been partially fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. God had turned the tables upon Satan's schemes to discredit humanity and break the bridge between them and God.
Hence, the rest of the kingdom fulfilment will come. Given such a powerful promise, how can we then not bow our knee and turn our eyes to the King? How can we not surrender to the Great I Am?
The Lord is here. Let us turn our everything to Him.
Rest
Turn your eyes by Sovereign Grace Music
Jason
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