Today’s passage: Ezekiel 45
Helpful thoughts:
- God allots land at and around the temple for the temple, the Zadokite priests, the Levites and for the house of Israel.
- The holy area is 8 1/3 miles long and 6 2/3 miles wide. The city portion will add another 1 2/3 miles to the width (Making the whole area square). “The prince” will have more land on the east and west sides.
- Not counting the prince’s land, this area covers about 69 1/2 square miles (Over 44,000 acres).
- For reference: Washington D.C. is about 68 1/3 square miles. Modern day Jerusalem is about 48 1/3 square miles.
- The holy area is 8 1/3 miles long and 6 2/3 miles wide. The city portion will add another 1 2/3 miles to the width (Making the whole area square). “The prince” will have more land on the east and west sides.
- The land surrounding the temple “district” will be governed by “the prince.”
- The prince will be responsible to ensure accurate and honest measurements and values for goods and currency. God will demand and ensure perfect justice in that day!
- The Feasts of Passover (Verse 21) and Tabernacles (Verse 25) will be reinstated during this time, but they will be celebrated differently than before.
Questions to consider:
- If the prince is governing people inside and outside of this city, what can we learn about life in the kingdom? Are all of the people going to live inside the city, or will it serve much the same as cities do today, with suburbs and rural areas spread around?
- When will justice finally be seen on earth? Though it is right for us to pursue justice now (Micah 6:8), will the world achieve it before Jesus returns? What will things be like when the world is ruled with justice and integrity?
- What does it appear the feasts/celebrations of Passover and Tabernacles will both feature? Will the world still be mindful of sin and the need of forgiveness and reconciliation during this time? Where does full and final restoration come from (Hebrews 10:8-10)? What will these sacrifices at the new temple be picturing?