THE PRINCE
Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 46-48
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The view of Jericho from half-way up the Mount of Temptation. Jericho is located at the junction of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea and is 1,200 feet below Sea Level. It is an oasis in an otherwise harsh wilderness, because of fresh water springs which give abundant life. Ezekiel prophesies that this area will flourish during the time of the final Temple (yet future), because of a new river of water which will flow from Jerusalem into the valley of what we now know as the Dead Sea. Imagine a river flowing along the valley seen on the right of Reynold’s photograph (Ezekiel 47:8-9).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Ezekiel 47:22, 48:35
…you will divide it [the land]…for yourselves and for the strangers who sojourn among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native born…All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE!
Ezekiel 46 tells us five times of “The Prince!” Isaiah calls Him “Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6) and during His reign as Messiah King, there will be total peace. Here and now He brings “peace on earth” (the message to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus), and read about how He brings peace to the troubled soul in the present (Ephesians 2:13-18).
Ezekiel 47 describes the final Temple to be built in Jerusalem, serving the whole world during the final 1,000 years before the new heaven and the new earth, of which Peter writes (we move over to Second Peter in tomorrow’s reading).
Ezekiel 48 describes the distribution of land and includes the “stranger” (non-Jew). The departments of immigration in our various countries could learn God’s plan for caring for everyone whom He cares for equally. Seven times in today’s reading we read of lands that “belong to the Prince.” We have something in Canada called “Crown Land.” In theory it belongs to Queen Elizabeth 2 (translate that as government). We may have temporary title to land, but the real owner of all is “The Prince!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, You are so concerned with every detail of the Temple construction and use. Surely You are even more concerned with the temple in whom You dwell in this age. Paul taught that I am Your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Be in charge of this human temple, I pray! I ask You this in the Name of the One “In Whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:8-10), Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My wife, Norma-Jean has told me several times that she expects Israel to build a wall between the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim shrine on the Temple mount for the last 1,300 years) and the actual location of the Temple Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, so that a new Temple can be built. She has actually paced out the space. She claims there’s room there for a Temple to be built beside the mosque. Maybe? That land is a fuse waiting for someone to ignite it, launching what could be World War III.The Eastern Gate in Jerusalem’s wall, blocked up by the Muslims, leads directly into the core of what once was the Temple.
My sons (who help me with this blog) and I walked from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is 2,500 feet above Sea Level and the Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below. I imagined the rush of the waters spoken of in Ezekiel 47, coursing down the valleys beside the road (someone captured on video a rush of water down to the Dead Sea after a rain in the Judean hills…click here). My imagination and ability to use words which paint a picture is not nearly as descriptive as those of Ezekiel. Today is the last reading for now in Ezekiel.
Yours for communicating, in as many ways as possible, the Gospel message,
David
David
could you pray fot me yesterday I i had a failing seizure . I know have a cracked
fiinger
my glasses broke today I am seeing my eye doctor, and need new glasess.
i can not see well thanks to technology i can make words bigger. i need to have my eyes checked anyway i get checked every every years
Lianne
Lord God we come to you with prayers of healing for Lianne Hogg; we come toYou Lord and ask that You completely remove all seizures from her; we ask Lord to heal her from her toes to the top of her head! Lord we pray You will give her new eye glasses and heal her broken finger!
Lord God we Pray that You will keep Lianne safe, please do not allow her to have any more seizures! We thank you Lord for all the blessings You will shower upon Lianne today! We thank you Lord, in Jesus Name We Pray AMEN
Amen
Amen !
Amen
would appreciate prayers asking the Lord to remove Restless Leg Syndrome, the legs twitch, I take meds, I also SWIM a Lot,
Please pray the Lord will grant me a financial breakthrough to pay off detbs, ($12,000) send $25,000 to each child/grandchild ($150,000) missions in my community (10,000) Mosquito nets )$10,000) invest $500,000 for a better income for; then just spend time serving others!
this is the desire of my heart; hear my prayers dear Lord In Jesus Name Iray AMEN
Lord I pray You heal Sah from RLS- remove it from her life just as You removed smokes and alcohol! You are faithful O God and You hear and answer our prayers. We believe, by Your word, O God that ALL our needs and desires are met. I pray for her financial security and time and opportunities to serve others! Bless her Lord- she is Your humble and obedient servant. Amen to her prayers for Lianne. Bless all on this blog. In the name of Jesus I pray! Amen!!
Ezekiel – what a powerful book! Cannot help but be challenged and blessed by Ezekiel 47. “O Lord, let the waters of the Spirit touch our ankles as we walk with God, touch our knees as we beseech him in prayer, rise to our waist (or loins) in full surrender, into the waters to swim in (“waters over our heads”-Message) as we live a Spirit-filled life.” What an amazing section of scripture. So much spiritual symbolism for our encouragement and usefulness to God. “Flow through my soul, redeem it’s desert places, and plant a garden there for the Lord I adore. From a Hill I know, healing waters flow, O rise Immanuel’s tide and my soul overflow”.
“Father in heaven, grant your healing touch to Lianne and Sah – and to all of us who are struggling with health issues and other concerns, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Also, Lord, like Sah, we have a deep desire to give, to help in so many ways in face of so many legitimate needs around the world. All that we have is Yours, Lord, help us to continue to have a heart to give and then help us give “as we are able” like the women that Jesus noticed. She gave what she had – ever so small – in fact, she gave out of her poverty and not out of her abundance. Thank you, Lord, for blessing and multiplying whatever we give in Your Name as our hearts yearn to help others.”
So…the Gates of the New City will be the twelve tribes of Israel!!! According to the words of the Sovereign Lord!!
Was it a myth…so often said…St. Peter at the pearly gate?
What a precious river that runs through the City…makes all things fresh and alive!!
I meant to say “The Gates of the New City are the twelve tribes of Israel”!
What a powerful blog this morning…thank you Pastor David for all your input!!
Thank you to evryone who prayed for me! Let us continue to pray for good health for David Mainse, for Lianne, that God would remove all her seizures, and for Ger from yesterday’s blog!
I understand in Ontario there is a place called Lutherwood Child and Family Foundation! It provides children and parents with resources in dealing with children and other family members who have a mental illness!
I am asking for prayers that this idea will catch across Canada! More prisons are not the answer!
Help for children with a mental illness needs to be in place when the children are very young, starting at kindergarden age.The service needs to be available for the parents, guardians and must be east to enter and navigate!
Pray for the Ministry of Children and Youth in each province; that they would see a vision and create a children’s mental health system, again, the services should be simple to sign up with and the system must be accountable and offer the same services no matter where one lives!
It is very difficult to help young people once they become a teen because many of them do not have the wisdom to handle the stresses of growing up! Our children need to learn these skills as early as Kindergarden! Lord God I pray You will guide the proper departments in government and in our communities to come together and help our young people in their journey! AMEN
I appreciated Ann Mainse’s heart and honesty; how often we miss what God has for us because of our selfishness…guided by our sin nature rather than obedience to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Thank you Pastor David for sharing Ann’s story with us
When I think of the Apostle Peter speaking from his experience of witnessing all Jesus Our Savior did when He was with them…how awesome that must have been at the realization that Jesus WAS AND IS WHO HE SAID HE WAS!!!
WHAT A JOY TO KNOW HE IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR FOR EVER AND EVER!! AMEN!!!